Clayton Kershaw was named the National League Pitcher of the Month for April of the 2023 season, becoming the first Los Angeles Dodgers hurler to receive the honor since Walker Buehler in July 2021. It’s the seventh time the left-hander has won Pitcher of the Month, and the first since May 2016.
Kershaw went 5-1 with a 1.89 ERA, 3.07 FIP, 0.76 WHIP and 9.7 strikeouts per nine in 38 innings pitched across six starts. The 35-year-old most notably earned the 200th win of his career in a 5-0 win over the New York Mets on April 18.
Kershaw’s five wins and WHIP were the best among qualified NL starters for the period. What’s more, his 1.2 WAR was tied for third, and his ERA and walks per nine innings (1.18) were good for fourth.
The Dodgers went 5-1 in games started by Kershaw, and he logged at least six innings in each outing. Of his appearances, all but one were quality starts.
Both of the Dodgers’ shutout wins this season are in games started by Kershaw.
Clayton Kershaw credits ‘great’ Dodgers teams for 200 career wins
Kershaw became the 121st pitcher in MLB history to reach the 200-wins mark, and he credited his teammates over the years in helping him achieve the milestone. “It just means we’ve been on great teams,” Kershaw began.
“I think that’s ultimately what a win signifies. It’s just over the course of the last basically 10-11 years now, we’ve gone to the playoffs, we’ve had great teams. There’s been a lot of pitchers that have pitched well, but maybe not have the team behind them to get those kind of wins.
“So just reflecting on that, just thankful for being a part of great teams. I mean, I think that’s what tonight signifies for me, is just looking back at all the different groups of guys that I’ve gotten to play with over the years.
“And maybe it hasn’t ended the way we want it to the postseason, but ultimately, winning all those games with those groups is special.
“And I think this one is going to be the same. I think it’s going to be really special. And the guys had a toast for me in the locker room, which was really cool. And people even said some stuff that made me uncomfortable, which was great. So yeah, being able to celebrate with your teammates, different accomplishments is really, really special.”
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