Clayton Kershaw Suffers Another Failure Regarding Postseason Legacy

An aura of confidence surrounded the Los Angeles Dodgers heading into Game One of the 2023 National League Division Series against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Besides home field advantage in the best-of-five series, the Dodgers posted an 8-5 record against the Diamondbacks during the regular season with a +25 run differential according to Baseball-Reference. Along with achieving at least 100 victories for the fifth time since the 2017 season, manager Dave Roberts handed the baseball to one of the greatest left-handed pitchers of all-time in Clayton Kershaw.

The crowd hadn’t even settled in at Dodger Stadium before Kershaw was sitting in the dugout dripping wet from exhaustion after a disastrous performance that only lasted a third of an inning. In 35 pitches, Kershaw had surrendered six earned runs on six hits over eight batters. The Diamondbacks’ aggressiveness was overwhelming as they had swung at 24 of Kershaw’s pitches and only missed making contact on five of them according to Baseball Savant. The silence throughout the ballpark was deafening as it was a rare combination of shock and empathy for Kershaw as he walked off the mound with an unfathomable 162.00 earned run average for the evening. The Diamondbacks had defeated the Dodgers by the score of 11-2 and took a 1-0 lead in the series.

This past season, Kershaw faced the Diamondbacks three times and posted a 2-1 record with a 3.18 earned run average. Over 17 innings pitched, he allowed six earned runs while striking out 18 batters. In total, Kershaw threw 244 pitches with an emphasis placed on four-seam fastballs (40.65%) and sliders (38.21%) according to Baseball Savant. Kershaw did not have a double-digit strikeout ball game this past season, but his nine strikeouts against the Diamondbacks on April 1st tied a season high he had achieved on five occasions according to Baseball-Reference.

Prior to his recent performance against the Diamondbacks, Kershaw had started Game One of the National League Division Series on five occasions according to Baseball-Reference. Over 31.2 innings, he struck out 47 batters but posted a 5.48 earned run average. Regardless of a 3-2 record, Kershaw had surrendered seven home runs with four coming in one ball game: Game One of the 2017 National League Division Series against the Diamondbacks. Kershaw now has a 7.03 earned run average over six starts in Game One of the National League Division Series.

Over 39 postseason ball games, Kershaw has amassed a 4.50 earned run average with two key statistics of distinction. Along with right-handed pitcher Justin Verlander of the Houston Astros, Kershaw has surpassed 200 strikeouts and is one of five pitchers who have won at least 13 postseason ball games according to Baseball-Reference. However, Kershaw’s regular season dominance has failed to consistently appear in the month of October. Sadly, he has added another demerit to his postseason résumé.

As the optics weighed in favor of the Dodgers at the outset of the series, the ball club has serious concerns regarding their pitching staff and whether it can sustain the rigors of postseason competition. Kershaw has entertained thoughts of retirement in recent years and was considered the primary postseason option when it came to starting pitchers for the Dodgers. He recently admitted that it has been an unconventional season for him given the six week stint on the injured list throughout the months of July and early August with a sore left shoulder. Kershaw was pleasantly surprised to be able to start Game One thanks to health and preparation.

Everyone would love to see Kershaw turn back the clock and for one last time be the starting pitcher who won three National League Cy Young Awards and a Most Valuable Player Award during the prime years of his career. Reality tells us that retirement is imminent for Kershaw but he still provides tremendous value while instilling confidence in his teammates. According to first baseman Freddie Freeman, “When number 22 is on the mound for the Los Angeles Dodgers, you feel pretty good about it.” Kershaw is living in the moment and doesn’t take for granted a single postseason appearance. However, the horror of his performance in Game One of the National League Division Series has opened the door to serious questions that go well beyond the current postseason for Kershaw.

As Kershaw talked to members of the media a day before the start of the series, the topic of nerves was discussed as he provided an observation that could only come from someone whose postseason experience is the equivalent of a full regular season’s workload for a healthy starting pitcher. Kershaw said, “I’d much rather fail on the biggest stages than not be here at all.” He admitted that in the past his nerves were a byproduct of a fear of failure. Thanks to a myriad of experiences, Kershaw now gains positivity from his nerves as he focuses on the excitement of pitching in the postseason. Regardless of Kershaw’s refreshing outlook, he appeared dejected as the Diamondbacks handled every pitch he had thrown with ease.

Going forward, Clayton Kershaw’s primary focus must be health and providing the Dodgers with at least five quality innings every time he steps on a mound this postseason. As evident in Game One of the National League Division Series, elevated pitch counts and hard contact will adversely affect how the Dodgers utilize Kershaw. Besides exemplary leadership and experience, Kershaw’s true value begins with how quickly he can command the strike zone with his slider while keeping hitters off balance by mixing in four-seam fastballs and curveballs from his repertoire.