Clayton Kershaw was one of the select few who didn’t fall ill as a virus swept through the Los Angeles Dodgers clubhouse at Camelback Ranch. His good health snapped a string of consecutive games the Dodgers were forced to scratch their scheduled starter at two.
Heading into his outing against the Chicago White Sox, the plan called for Kershaw to pitch two innings, then complete a third in the bullpen. It was to build off his throwing one inning against the Seattle Mariners, which was followed by another in the bullpen.
The three-time Cy Young Award winner hit his mark, allowing just one hit and issuing a walk over two scoreless innings. Kershaw’s errant pickoff throw put a runner at third base with one out, in what was the only trouble he faced in the Dodgers’ 7-6 win.
While he went the expected two innings, Kershaw wasn’t completely satisfied with his performance in the start, via Ken Gurnick of MLB.com:
“Another step, another inning,” said Kershaw, who threw one inning in his spring debut five days earlier. “Definitely things I can do better. For the most part, I’ll take it. I made some good pitches when I needed to. Made some bad ones too, so enough to work on.”
That Kershaw offered a critical assessment of himself, particularly during Spring Training, is hardly a surprise. He’s come to expect perfection, whether in the spring or regular season.
Although the Dodgers are mindful of how much they’re pushing some of their players, Kershaw’s second start came on his usual turn in the rotation. Should be remain on the same schedule, the left-handed ace would next face the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at Tempe Diablo Stadium on Wednesday.
