Dodgers start Spring Training with a win, Kershaw looks great

It’s time for Dodger baseball!

As Clayton Kershaw jogged out to the mound at Camelback Ranch in Phoenix for the Dodgers’ Spring Training opener, the Los Angeles Dodgers took their first strides toward winning their fifth consecutive National League western division title.

Kershaw, already named the Opening Day starter for the club, was only slated to throw one inning today.

It was all he needed to remind the world that baseball is back. Kershaw dominated, striking out one hitter on the Chicago White Sox, in a 12-pitch inning, perhaps foreshadowing the larger goals the Dodgers have for 2017 in winning a World Series title.

The Dodgers, who last appeared in and won the World Series in 1988, have the bulk of their club back from last year’s team, who lost to the Chicago Cubs in the National League Championship Series.

With Kershaw already in mid-season form and new acquisition Logan Forsythe smacking a double and scoring a run in the 5-3 victory, the hope is that the Dodgers will carry strong momentum into a promising season.

Justin Turner had an RBI base hit that scored Corey Seager and Yasmani Grandal clubbed a double and a single as the big names on offense contributed on day one of the spring.

With Corey Seager looking to build upon his unanimous 2017 Rookie of the Year campaign and Joc Pederson continuing to improve, the Dodgers can focus more on establishing consistency in left and right field.

Andrew Toles and Yasiel Puig started in left and right today, but Scott Van Slyke and Chris Taylor were the two outfielders that filled the box score, each scratching out a base hit. Van Slyke’s single knocked in Taylor in the 7th, and ultimately provided the final margin in the ballgame.

Brett Eibner, an under-the-radar acquisition in late January, notched his first homerun in Dodger blue, though the 28-year old looks to be on the outside looking in, as the competition for the outfield spots is beyond logjammed.

Higher-profile signee Franklin Gutierrez started at DH for the Dodgers and was hitless in two at-bats.

On the mound, Alex Wood and Josh Ravin followed Kershaw — each giving up runs in shaky appearances.

The depth in the Dodgers pitching staff is fierce, and every appearance is going to be significant in this year’s lengthened Spring Training. With the World Baseball Classic taking place from March 6th – 22nd, an extra week of time was added to give ballplayers more time to acclimate.

This is going to provide opportunities for Wood, Ravin and the like to pitch their way on or off the roster.

It is safe to say that all Dodgers pitchers are trying to learn quite a bit from watching the man who started today’s game, as nearly the entire club gathered around to watch Kershaw throw a bullpen.

The team is hoping that the lesson pays off with a late run into October.