Dodgers’ Clayton Kershaw Takes Hilarious Shot at Astros for Cheating
Clayton Kershaw probably didn’t wake up planning to call out the 2017 Houston Astros this week. However, when he was asked him who the best 1-2 hitting duo was, an amusing thought was voiced.
“I’m trying to think of teams that I pitched against,” Kershaw told Jayson Stark of The Athletic. “Like the best teams. I mean, leadoff-wise, (Jose) Altuve and (Alex) Bregman were good (in Houston). But they cheated, so that’s not really the same.”
Needless to say, Jose Altuve and Alex Bregman don’t have the talent that Shohei Ohtani and Mookie Betts have.
The sign-stealing Astros embarrassed Kershaw, arguably the greatest pitcher of the generation, in Game 5 of the 2017 World Series. Houston ran the veteran southpaw off the mound by scoring six runs in the fifth inning.
The Astros would go on to win Game 5 by a final score of 13-12 at Minute Maid Park. History would be tarnished as the Astros would go on to win the Fall Classic in seven games.
After an investigation done by the commissioner’s office, it was revealed that Houston used a trash-can scheme to seal their October fate. It was a nightmare for Kershaw and it’s evident he hasn’t forgotten what could’ve been.
Kershaw likely would’ve been the 2017 World Series Most Valuable Player, but it was ripped away after his performance in Game 5. According to Evan Gattis, the team knew what pitches Kershaw was going to throw in Game 5 at Minute Maid Park.
The Houston lineup didn’t swing and miss at a single breaking ball from Kershaw. In 2019, MLB determined the Astros electronically stole signs throughout the 2017 season, but the damage had already been done to the reputation of Kershaw and the Dodgers.
To make matters worse, no player from the 2017 Houston Astros was ever suspended and the squad kept their championship trophy.
Flash forward to 2024, the Dodgers are one game away from the World Series. It’s so close fans can practically taste it.
The Dodgers play their final game at Citi Field Friday with Jack Flaherty on the mound. The Los Angeles squad has the chance to close out the NLCS in New York Friday night.
Although Kershaw won’t take the mound for the Dodgers at any point in the 2024 postseason, the veteran left-hander will obviously earn a World Series ring if L.A. wins it all.
He also already made it known he’s coming back in 2025.
Read more: Clayton Kershaw Reveals Whether or Not He’ll Test Free Agency in Offseason
Photo Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
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