The Los Angeles Dodgers suffered a heartbreaking walk-off loss at the hands of the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 4 of the World Series, evening things up at two games apiece.
They now turn to Clayton Kershaw in what will be a pivotal Game 5 as he will square off with Tyler Glasnow once again, as was the case in Game 1. Kershaw tossed a gem to earn the victory that night, although the pressure obviously will be a lot higher this time around.
Before the Dodgers’ Game 4 loss, Kershaw discussed how he is able to stay focused on the task at hand knowing they are just two wins away from winning the World Series. “It’s not easy,” he admitted.
“I think when you’ve been working so hard and so long for one goal, and it’s getting closer and closer with each win, it’s harder not to think about the end game and what that might be like. But you just have to. It’s too hard to think in the future when you have a great team that you’re playing against.
“You have to focus on winning two more games and that starts with [Saturday]. For me at least, it’s just a constant focus on the next game, the next day, the next pitch. You just have to remind yourself and really discipline yourself to do it.”
It’s no secret Kershaw has had his ups and downs in the postseason over the years, and Game 5 will give him an opportunity to put all the narratives to bed.
“Everybody wants it. It’s not any different for me or anybody else. Care factor is what creates the butterflies,” Kershaw said. “You just want to do well. I don’t think that changes for anybody in either clubhouse. It’s just how you handle that, harness that and use it to perform.”
In Game 1, Kershaw had hitters off-balanced all night, allowing two hits and one run in six innings while striking out eight. He understands the Rays will make adjustments, and plans to do the same.
“Obviously the first time you face a team that they hadn’t seen you, it’s a little bit different. Definitely have to take into consideration what you’ve done against these guys in the past in Game 1, maybe look back and you might have to change some things you might not have liked or change approaches and different things like that,” Kershaw said.
“Obviously any time the hitters see you, they get a little bit more of an advantage. They’ve seen me for a few at-bats now, so I might have to change a few things up. But for the most part just continue to pitch the way that you pitch.”
Kershaw finds silver lining with Texas bubble
This postseason has been a unique experience for Kershaw and the Dodgers as they have played all of their games at Globe Life Field. It was one of four bubbles MLB established to help usher along the postseason.
“I think it can go both ways,” Kershaw said of not having an escape from baseball this October. “Sometimes it’s nice to turn it off every once in a while and go home. When you’re waking up and seeing Walker chipping golf balls right next to you, it’s hard to turn it off. It’s been really fun for the most part.
“The biggest thing is waking up, walking outside, seeing everybody hanging out, kiddos getting to run around together and things like that. I think in this time of life when everybody is trying to stay apart and shelter in place, to have a safe space to do that has been really special for us as teammates but also our wives and kiddos.”
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