In a moment of vulnerability, Clayton Kershaw, the Los Angeles Dodgers‘ ace, offered a candid reflection on his recent performance, providing insight into the challenges even the most seasoned pitchers face.
During a recent game against the Cincinnati Reds, Kershaw‘s performance was less than stellar.
He acknowledged that his slider wasn’t as effective as usual and that he didn’t feel his arm had the usual snap.
“It was pretty obvious to me after the first batter, my slider wasn’t great,” Kershaw admitted. “I just didn’t feel like I had the arm speed to throw well.”
Adding that he felt like he “didn’t have a lot of stuff” and “didn’t have a lot of life on the fastball,” Kershaw led theLos Angeles Dodgers to a 6-3 comeback victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday night.
Despite facing challenges, Kershaw managed to navigate through five innings, demonstrating resilience and adaptability.
A challenging start
The game began with the Reds taking an early 1-0 lead in the first inning, capitalizing on Kershaw’s initial struggles.
However, the seasoned left-hander quickly adjusted, retiring 14 consecutive batters after the early hiccup.
Manager Dave Roberts praised Kershaw‘s ability to adapt, stating, “You could see early on he didn’t have his best stuff, but he found a way to use all of his pitches and he got really creative.”
A message to his teammates
Beyond his individual performance, Kershaw’s reflections served as a broader message to his teammates. In a clubhouse filled with high expectations, his openness about facing difficulties underscored the importance of perseverance and mutual support.
Kershaw‘s willingness to admit when things aren’t going perfectly highlights the value of resilience and teamwork in overcoming challenges.
Without his usual velocity, Kershaw leaned on his experience and arsenal of pitches. He and catcher Will Smith worked together, introducing a mix of splitters and curveballs to keep the Cincinnati Reds off balance.
Kershaw reflected on the strategy, saying, “We kind of flipped the script and just started kind of throwing a lot of different stuff, trying to be creative.”
He added, “He kind of guided me through it and picked the right spots to throw different pitches.”
Managing workload
The outing marked just the third time this season that Kershaw pitched on four days’ rest, a factor that contributed to his abbreviated five-inning performance.
Despite this, he maintained efficiency, striking out six and walking none over 72 pitches.
Kershaw acknowledged the decision to limit his innings, stating, “It was pretty evident it wasn’t going to be a long night for me.”
Read the full article here
