Dodgers: Fans can root for Clayton Kershaw but don’t have to trust him

Clayton Kershaw has long been one of the best pitchers on the planet, but that does not mean that Los Angeles Dodgers fans have to trust him.

In public comments published by the Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts reiterated his faith in his ace, Clayton Kershaw.

"“With Clayton, I feel really good that when the bell rings for the postseason he’s gonna be locked and loaded,” Roberts said. “For me, if he’s feeling strong, I’ll trust that the results will be there.”"

Those kind of public comments are the things you want to hear when a player is struggling: support from the manager hoping it instills confidence going forward.

After seven straight playoff appearances, Roberts is asking Dodger fans to trust that Kershaw is ready and up for the challenge. History tells us that at this point, asking fans to trust Kershaw is a bridge too far.

Clayton Kershaw is the greatest pitcher to start for the Dodgers since Sandy Koufax retired; his resume includes three Cy Youngs, he’s a top-five pitcher in starts, wins, ERA strikeouts and a myriad of other statistics all-time in Dodgers history.

For most of the last few years, Kershaw’s starts were the main attraction for Dodger fans. Kershaw used an array of fastball, curveball, and slider to dominate hitters. His 2019 season was humming along as Kershaw went 23 straight starts going six or more innings. A month ago Kershaw was 12-2 and had a 2.63 ERA.

Since then, the bottom has fallen out over his last six starts Kershaw is 3-3 with a 5.24 ERA. Kershaw has given up 13 home runs over those six starts. He has looked less like an ace and more like the fifth starter trying to hold onto his place.

Kershaw’s recent struggles needed a vote of confidence from his manager, so of course, Dodger fans should have confidence in Kershaw as well. If only it was that simple.

Kershaw may be one of the greatest in the regular season but his playoff starts have now taken on a comical turn that breeds both anxiety and dread in Dodger fans.

Kershaw has a 4.32 ERA in the playoffs compared to 2.67 in the regular season and before the “blame the bullpen” brigade pipes up, allow me to remind you that in his first four starts in 2017, the bullpen held every game Kershaw pitched in.

In his fifth start with the Dodgers in game five of the World Series, with leads of 4-0 and 7-4 and needing to win in order to take 3-2 series lead, Kershaw could not hold either lead and would eventually lose the game.

In last year’s playoffs, Kershaw went 2-3 in five starts with 4.20 ERA and was absolutely horrible in the World Series, going 0-2 while lasting just four innings in a game one loss and giving up three home runs in a game five loss, putting the team down 2-0 before the first inning was over.

Clayton Kershaw’s recent struggles and his postseason history won’t invoke any confidence that this October will be different. Root for Kershaw because he’s a Dodger great, but no one should blame you if you can’t trust him this postseason.