Steve Webb
LOS ANGELES, CA — When you’ve already got your ticket punched to Cooperstown, people are going to look at you different. They just are. And, when you’re fighting against a decade-old narrative, it’s going to be even more difficult to change people’s minds. That’s what Clayton Kershaw is up against in this postseason.
His start at Dodger Stadium on Wednesday was okay, practically identical to Julio Urias’s in terms of innings pitched and runs allowed. He went 5.0 innings, and gave up six hits and three earned runs, which included one solo home run. Urias, pitching on Tuesday, pitched 5.0 innings, gave up four hits and three earned runs, which also included a solo home run. Yet, after Kersh’s start on Wednesday, there was a lot of “here we go again” sort of comments on the internet, complaining about the Dodgers’ ace’s failure to show up in October.
I think a lot of that narrative is undeserved, but the simple fact of the matter is that it was remarkable how much different Kershaw looked on Wednesday from what he’d done since his return from the IL. In Kersh’s last seven starts, he had a record of 5-0 with a miniscule ERA of 1.54. And yet, here he was, not getting it done against the top of the Padres lineup. It was painful to watch him struggle, even though after the third inning, the struggles were pretty much over and he’d found his groove. The damage had already been done.
If the Dodgers had won (which they should have done), the narrative would have been that Kersh battled on a night that he didn’t have his best stuff and gave the team a chance to win, which is absolutely true. But they lost, and now that showing will forever be connected to Kershaw’s name, even if it was Brusdar Graterol who got stuck with the hard-luck loss.
One of the reasons I want the Dodgers to win the World Series this year is because in order to do so, they will need a great postseason from Kershaw. I want him to get this ring riding a wave of vindication. But now that outcome is totally in doubt. If the Dodgers advance to the next round, Clayton will get two or three or maybe even four more starts before it’s all over. Plenty of time to erase a so-so start in the NLDS.
I just pray that he gets the chance.
