Dodgers: Clayton Kershaw Logs Career First After Win on Saturday

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[et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text”]Last year, Clayton Kershaw had a disastrous start in the first game of a doubleheader at Wrigley. He finished just one inning before being pulled from the game. It was the shortest start of his career. Yesterday was the complete opposite. Kershaw threw seven scoreless innings to help the Dodgers blank the Cubs in the 7-0 victory in the first game of the day.

Thanks to the Dodgers offense strong backing of Kershaw, he recorded his fourth win of the year which led to a career first for the 15-year Dodgers legend.

This is the 1st time in Clayton Kershaw's career he has won 4 of his first 5 starts of a season without a loss.

The Dodgers now own the longest active scoring streak (55 games), after shutting out the Cubs in Game 1 of Saturday's doubleheader (Cubs had scored in 70 straight). pic.twitter.com/24ZLiLzQWx

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) May 7, 2022

As ESPN Stats & Info points out, Saturday’s game wasn’t just statistically meaningful for Kershaw. LA shutting out Chicago means that the Dodgers now have the longest active scoring streak in all of baseball (55 games).

Clayton Kershaw’s Hot Start

It’s early, but Kershaw looks every bit like a Cy Young candidate this season. He has his lowest walk rate (2.8%) and WHIP (0.73) since the 2016 season.  Entering Sunday, he’s currently ninth in the league in ERA (1.80), second in WHIP, and eighth in FIP (2.21) among MLB starters.

Andrew Heaney Takes First Step In Returning to Mound

Kershaw isn’t striking out hitters like he did at his peak, but he’s still among the best in the league at collecting K’s. His 9.60 K/9 ranks 15th. Clayton’s also doing it with diminished fastball velocity and a reconfigured pitch mix. His average fastball velocity of 90.9 MPH is the second lowest of his career, but his devastating slider (don’t call it a cutter) has made up for his lack of velocity.

If he can stay healthy, it looks like Kershaw could be in the running for the fourth Cy Young award of his illustrious career. 

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