Clayton Kershaw return stops the bleeding for the Dodgers momentarily

For the Dodgers, Clayton Kershaw coming back to the mound helped them get things right.

It’d been an unusual five game losing streak for the best team in baseball, and then their best player came back after rehabbing an injury for some time. In his return, Kershaw showed why once again we can never count him out as one of the best in the history of the game.

In a shutout of the San Diego Padres, Kershaw improved to 16-2 on the season. Los Angeles hasn’t lost a start of his since the beginning of May, which in itself is an incredible feat.

The Dodgers are going to be in good company if he can keep up these kind of performances. With the post-season approaching quickly, the Dodgers know they have to be ready for anything.

Andy McCullough of the Los Angeles Times broke down what he saw from the 1-0 win:

"Kershaw handled his opposition earlier in the evening with ease. He struck out seven and appeared unfazed by his time on the disabled list nursing a strained back. He spun an abbreviated gem, exiting only because of the Dodgers’ decision to gently ease him back into big-league competition.Kershaw faced little adversity. He permitted two infield singles. He walked none. His outfielders did not field the baseball once."

It’s the type of season that the Dodgers cannot afford to just throw away or blow in the playoffs. For them to not win the World Series would be a disappointment on a scale not seen in quite some time, yet it would keep the narrative that some of the best teams in baseball history couldn’t get a championship.

That includes the 2001 Seattle Mariners, who the Dodgers are chasing for the best regular season record ever.

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Let’s hope we see more of this kind of Kershaw from here on out.