Dodgers News: Mattingly Praises Kershaw’s Short Memory
After taking the first game on Tuesday, the Dodgers will send out their ace, Clayton Kershaw, for the sweep. Kershaw is on a hot streak that began after he was roughed up in a start at Chase Field back in May. He gave up seven runs in 1.2 innings that day, but has since recovered.
According to Adam Lichtenstein of MLB.com, Dodger manager Don Mattingly knew how his ace would respond to that start:
He just moves on. He just pushes forward,” Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said. “Same way after the St. Louis game [a 9-0 Cardinals win in Game 6 of the 2013 NLCS], you know it bothered him, but more than anything he just pushes forward. He approaches it the same way as a good start. The next day, he’s working toward the next start. It’s pretty clear-cut for him, good or bad.”
Since that forgettable start in Arizona, the reigning Cy Young award winner has gone 13-2 with a 1.37 ERA. He currently ranks first in the National League in ERA (1.82), tied for first in wins (15) and fourth in strikeouts (184). Despite missing a month at the start of the year, Kershaw is considered one of the frontrunners for Cy Young and has even garnered some buzz as a possible MVP candidate.
Also, the Diamondback team that Kershaw will face tonight will be completely different from the one in May. Arizona’s lineup will feature plenty of new faces and Kershaw is far removed from his disabled list stint. The left-hander will be looking for his seventh complete game of the season and league-leading 16th victory.
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