Dodgers Rumors: Three concerns the fans should recognize
By Evan Lovett
Concern #3: Playoff Ghosts
October 15, 2009 – Phillies 8, Dodgers 6. Clayton Kershaw 4 2/3 innings, 5 earned runs, 5 walks. Loss.
October 21, 2009 – Phillies 10, Dodgers 4. Clayton Kershaw 2 innings, 2 earned runs.
October 12, 2013 – Cardinals 1, Dodgers 0. Clayton Kershaw 6 innings, 1 unearned run, Loss.
October 18, 2013 – Cardinals 9, Dodgers 0. Clayton Kershaw 4 innings, 10 hits, 7 earned runs, Loss.
October 3, 2014 – Cardinals 10, Dodgers 9. Clayton Kershaw 6 innings, 8 hits, 8 earned runs, Loss.
October 7, 2014 – Cardinals 3, Dodgers 2. Clayton Kershaw 6 innings, 3 earned runs, Loss.
October 9, 2015 – Mets 3, Dodgers 1. Clayton Kershaw 6 2/3 innings, 3 earned runs, Loss.
October 22, 2016 – Cubs 5, Dodgers 0. Clayton Kershaw 5 innings, 7 hits, 4 earned runs, Loss.
Clayton Kershaw’s lifetime postseason stats: 14 games started, 4 wins and 7 losses. 4.55 ERA in 89 innings pitched. 106 strikeouts and 27 walks.
Though the entirety of the Dodgers’ performance does not rely on Clayton Kershaw, he is undoubtedly the heart and soul of this franchise, and the most important pitcher in baseball. While Kershaw has been injured this season, the Dodgers’ record is an impressive 15-3. Most of those games, however, have come against teams with sub-.500 records and only the Arizona Diamondbacks are a potential postseason team.
Thus, its misleading. The National League is laden with strong ballclubs this season, and the Dodgers will need their ace to pitch at least twice per series for the team to have its best chances to advance to the World Series for the first time since 1988.
And for that to happen, Kershaw needs to exorcize his ghosts. His positive performances in the National League Division Series in 2016 were promising. The three games in which he appeared were the three wins the Dodgers nabbed in advancing to the NLCS.
They need that Clayton Kershaw to show up in the 2017 playoffs. His recovery from this latest back ailment will be closely monitored, and it might end up being a blessing in surprise – he could be well-rested and ready to exterminate opponents as well as ghosts as the Dodgers attempt to continue this amazing, improbable season.