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Los Angeles Dodgers: Predicting the Dodgers’ 2020 all-stars

By Jason Reed

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 21: Walker Buehler #21 of the Los Angeles Dodgers pitches against the Colorado Rockies during the third inning at Dodger Stadium on June 21, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 21: Walker Buehler #21 of the Los Angeles Dodgers pitches against the Colorado Rockies during the third inning at Dodger Stadium on June 21, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Rob Leiter/MLB Photos via Getty Images) – Los Angeles Dodgers
(Photo by Rob Leiter/MLB Photos via Getty Images) – Los Angeles Dodgers /

4. Clayton Kershaw, ninth appearance

Clayton Kershaw may not be as mesmerizing as he once was on the mound and is not even as mesmerizing as Walker Buehler is on the mound. Buehler has the capability of pitching a 15-strikeout shutout at this stage in his career, with Kershaw, that is no longer the case.

However, because Dodger fans have been so spoiled with the greatest left-handed pitcher of our generation, many are mistaking Kershaw’s fall from the top of the mountain as him no longer having all-star stuff.

Is Kershaw the best pitcher in the league anymore? No. Will he be the best pitcher on the Dodgers after this season? Maybe not, but Kershaw still had a better season in terms of ERA and Baseball-Reference WAR last season than Buehler, and fittingly finished one spot ahead of him in Cy Young voting.

Kershaw was a beacon of consistency for the Dodgers last season, often throwing 6-7 and only allowing 2-3 runs. Again, it may not be sexy, but it is more than enough for the Dodgers to not only win games but for Kershaw to be an all-star.

However, I think Kershaw is going to surprise a lot of people this season and be better than he was last season. He is getting a head start in Spring Training, had a longer offseason than normal and while he won’t be prime Kershaw, I see Kershaw posting an ERA in the 2.80s in his age 32 season with a more impressive first half than second half, making the all-star nod a lock.

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