Dodgers: Dave Roberts Confirms His Opening Day Starter

The annual conversation of Opening Day starters is usually a popular buzz around Spring camps, but not so much this year. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts announced fairly early in March that Clayton Kershaw would be the guy this year, and not much seems to have changed. 

Roberts was asked during a press conference with Dodgers’ media if he was ready to name his starter. Without hesitation, Roberts once again named Clayton Kershaw. 

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This shouldn’t really come as any surprise, as Opening Day is more ceremonial than anything. Walker Buehler talked about the opportunity last week, noting that it was always going to be Kershaw’s as long as he was with the Dodgers. 

For Kershaw, this is his ninth Opening Day start for the Dodgers since 2011. That is a franchise record for Kershaw, who eclipses Don Sutton and Don Drysdale by two starts. He last faced the Giants on Opening Day in 2013, when he threw a complete-game shutout and hit a homerun. 

The Dodgers find themselves in a fortunate position, despite having lost David Price for the year. Price chose to opt-out of playing this season over concerns over his family’s health. Los Angeles has at least seven guys on their current roster that could be a starter on almost any other team in the league. 

Dodgers: Watch Clayton Kershaw Face Mookie Betts in Live BP at Dodger Stadium