Dodgers News: LA Coach Describes What’s Limiting Clayton Kershaw Right Now

Clayton Kershaw hasn’t looked like his dominating self. Since coming off the injured list in August, the Dodgers ace has been good at limiting run production over five starts. However, the advanced stats have been a little less kind.

In his most recent start against the Marlins in Miami, Kershaw averaged just 88.6 miles per hour on his fastball and seemed to be lacking life in his arsenal. Dave Roberts announced Kershaw’s shoulder still isn’t quite right, but Kershaw will pitch anyway, albeit with a few added days of rest this week.

The unusual results have been frustrating for Kershaw.

In a positive development, Dodger pitching coach Mark Prior explained to the OC Register that he thinks he has found a mechanical problem in Kershaw’s delivery.

“There’s some stuff in the delivery that hopefully will free him up to maximize and get his timing back,” Prior said. “I think so much of it is a timing situation. I think that’s where you get into a situation where guys who’ve had – whether it’s elbow or shoulder or anything, in the middle of a season you’re trying to come back and you do things because you feel fine but you just don’t know subconsciously what you might have tweaked to get back to that point.

Via OC Register

Newest LA pitcher, Lance Lynn, recently explained something similar from his perspective. Essentially, Kershaw is still trying to get back into game shape after a nearly 45 day layoff.

“I thought he had some moments the other day,” Prior continued, “but clearly his stuff wasn’t what it’s been in the past. I think it’s just kind of a byproduct of where he’s at right now and kind of working through some things and working through some things with his delivery where his timing is just a little bit off. We talked about a couple little adjustments with his delivery, trying to put him back in those positions that hopefully frees him up a little bit. The caveat with Clayton is that his delivery is so consistent that these are things that are on the margins that hopefully pay dividends. But we won’t know until he gets into his next start.”

That next start now comes on Friday in Seattle.

With just three weeks left in the regular season, the Dodgers and their fans hope Prior is right and can fix Kershaw before the playoffs. 

Photo Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports

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