Dodgers News: Clayton Kershaw Sees Issues Stemming From Long Layoff

Major League Baseball introduced a new playoff format during the 2022 season and the Dodgers earned a first-round bye in both years since it’s implementation.

The perceived advantage of extra rest hasn’t paid off for LA after their second straight NLDS loss causing Clayton Kershaw to give his interesting take on how both years ended for the team.

“Look, it’s hard,” Kershaw said. “Pitching, maybe not so much. But obviously, offensively, these guys are so used to playing every day. I get it — extra teams, more money, all that stuff. I get it. But I do think — I’m not a hitter, but it does seem like it’s a bit of a challenge. It’s not an excuse, though.”

via Bill Shaikin, LA Times

It’s an interesting perspective from Kershaw considering that he ended his season with extra days of rest in between his final starts of the season.

The veteran showed flashes of his dominant self despite his shoulder injury to close out LA’s regular season, but his postseason demons returned stronger than ever in Game 1 of the NLDS.

Arizona jumped out to a 6-0 first inning lead thanks to several hard hit balls and high exit velocity throughout Kershaw’s shortest start of his entire career.

Dave Roberts begrudgingly took the ball from his future Hall of Famer in a game that seemed all but over thanks to his poor start.

Kershaw wasn’t the only player who struggled as the other two Dodgers starters in the series also struggled to help LA out with their poor showings that ultimately doomed the team’s season.

Bobby Miller showed plenty of rookie nerves with three runs allowed and poor command throughout in his Game 2 outing as the offense continued to struggle in a close loss to the Snakes.

Lance Lynn took the hill for the pivotal Game 3 and his home run problem from the regular season reemerged at the worst possible time.

Four Diamondbacks hit solo home runs off the veteran in the elimination game as LA’s poor offense ensured that those four would be the only runs the Snakes needed for the sweep.

Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman in particular deserve the blame on the offensive side of the ball as the presumed top 4 NL MVP candidates combined for just one hit in the three game destruction.

Baltimore and Atlanta have joined LA on the couch after their own first-round byes this postseason, but Kershaw isn’t making excuses for the team’s poor execution when the lights got bright.

Photo Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

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