Los Angeles Dodgers: Why Clayton Kershaw will be better in 2019
By Jason Reed
3. The Los Angeles Dodgers have a much better bullpen overall
Some of the bullpens that Clayton Kershaw has had to pitch in front of have been pretty shaky in the past. It is ironic as well because when the bullpen was arguably its worst is when Kershaw was his best.
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However, that has taken a toll on the southpaw, evident by his injury past after being worked so hard for so long. He is a human being after all and he can only take so much workload before his body gives in.
Going out and throwing world-class games every five days already takes a toll on the body, it takes an even bigger toll when you have to go one more inning than you really should. And say what you will about Dave Roberts, he doesn’t usually extend guys past what they should be going.
The Los Angeles Dodgers have a really deep pen this year and all Kershaw really needs to do is throw six quality innings and the bullpen should be able to turn over the rest.
Kenley Jansen has a new setup man in Joe Kelly and the Dodgers are going to be using a lot more of Dylan Floro, who was secretly one of the best relievers in the league last year. 2018 all-star Ross Stripling will probably be in the bullpen (or Kenta Maeda) with Pedro Baez in there as well.
The team has Caleb Ferguson, Scott Alexander and Tony Cingrani to pitch against southpaws as well. There are an array of arms that can go out and get three outs for the Dodgers that the team does not need to extend Kershaw, and potentially hurt his outing, at all this season.
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Six shutout innings are better than seven two-run innings and I would rather pull Kershaw too soon than too late. That is what will get him through a 162-game season, after all.