On Tuesday, in the Dodgers’ 6-3 victory over the Reds, Clayton Kershaw seemed to have a tough night from the start. The left-hander allowed hits to two of the first three batters and gave up a run in the first inning. In addition, his pitches showed a drop in average velocity compared to usual. With just 72 pitches in five innings, it looked like a short outing.
But Kershaw showed why he is a future Hall of Famer. After that first inning, he retired 14 consecutive batters and completed five innings with just one run allowed, six strikeouts and no walks. It was his fifth consecutive victory, his best streak since 2022, and only the fourth time in his career that he has won five games in the same month, something he had not achieved since June 2017.
A different Kershaw than in the past
In terms of results, today’s Kershaw is reminiscent of the one who dominated the league with three Cy Young Awards and an MVP in four years. But in style, he is a different pitcher. Gone is the dominance based on the overwhelming fastball and devastating slider. Now, at 37 years of age and after surgeries and injuries, he has chosen to reinvent himself, adapting his game to his new physical conditions.
Dave Roberts’ vision
Manager Dave Roberts, who has managed him for more than a decade, praised his pitcher’s maturity: “Ten years ago he wouldn’t have accepted coming out after 72 pitches. But time catches up with everyone and Clayton is smart enough to know how many bullets he has. He’s learned to do different things, and I commend him for that.”
That evolution is reflected in the numbers. His strikeout rate (16.3%) is the lowest of his career, but his ground ball rate (50%) is the best since 2020 and his home run average allowed (0.7 per nine innings) is the lowest since 2016 in a season with at least 10 starts. Kershaw no longer looks to eliminate opponents with power, but rather to induce weak contact and rely on the defense behind him.
The resurgence of a legend
In his 18th season, Kershaw has shown that he can still reinvent himself and be a key part of a Dodgers rotation plagued by injuries. His maturity, intelligence on the mound and ability to adapt keep him going. Just when the team needed him most, the veteran has found new ways to dominate and continue writing chapters in an already legendary career.
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