Clayton Kershaw ‘thankful’ to be back on the mound in successful return
By: Rowan Kavner
Tags: Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers, MLB, Postgame

(Photo by Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers)

by Rowan Kavner

For the first time since the Dodgers traded for Max Scherzer, both of the club’s three-time Cy Young Award winners are in the rotation together.

Scherzer said he was “dying to see” Clayton Kershaw on the mound as his teammate for the first time Monday night. Kershaw, making his first start since July 3, was expected to go around four innings and 60 pitches. His efficiency allowed him to do one out better.

Back on a Major League mound for the first time in more than two months, the left-hander needed only 50 pitches to get through 4 1/3 innings Monday night. He returned from left elbow inflammation and allowed only one run while striking out five Diamondbacks in a 5–1 win.

“There’s not a lot of better feelings in the world than getting to pitch here and getting a win,” Kershaw said. “It’s a special thing. I missed it. It was good to be back.”

Roberts described the last couple months as “miserable” for Kershaw, who could only watch as Walker Buehler, Julio Urías, Scherzer and a medley of bullpen games helped alleviate the rotation’s absences. Prior to Monday, Kershaw hadn’t pitched since Scherzer and Trea Turner were both still on the Nationals. Their acquisitions would only add to Kershaw’s desire to play a role in the Dodgers’ ride toward October.

“I think there’s some truth to that, but I think for the most part he just doesn’t like not participating,” Roberts said. “Certainly, when you see what Walker’s doing, what Julio’s doing, what Max has done for us, yeah, he knows he can help us as well. I think that’s the most important thing.”

Kershaw took a major leap Monday toward his goal of building up before the playoffs. Getting up for a fifth inning, securing the first out of that frame, was important to him as well. He’s hopeful he can get through six innings his next time out.

The lone run Kershaw and the Dodgers surrendered came in the first inning on an RBI single from Josh Rojas. Kershaw favored more of his curveball in his first start back, with his velocity down a tick and with his slider not where he wanted it to be, but he allowed only two more hits the rest of the way.

As often as Kershaw threw bullpens getting ready for his start, he said there’s nothing that can simulate the action of a big-league game. His teammates enjoyed see him back on the mound.

“Obviously Kersh is our guy,” said Justin Turner. “He’s our leader. When he takes the ball, we know we’ve got a really good chance of winning a ballgame. That was special. I know he was chomping at the bit to be out there.”

Turner helped Kershaw’s cause on multiple occasions, delivering a go-ahead, two-run double in the first inning and adding insurance with his 25th home run of the year in the seventh. Each of Turner’s last five hits have gone for extra bases, and he has homered in each of his last two games.

Turner, Corey Seager and Austin Barnes each recorded two hits and combined to knock in all five of the Dodgers’ runs.

“I feel like I kind of got my timing back again,” Turner said.

The win was the Dodgers’ fourth straight, lowering their magic number for a playoff berth to two. Earlier in the night, the Giants celebrated making the playoffs for the first time since 2016.

Now, Kershaw will have the chance to help the Dodgers try to make up ground in the division over the final 17 games.

“I’m thankful,” Kershaw said. “I didn’t really know what it was going to look like honestly at the end of the season. For me to be able to be part of it is huge. I’ll never take that for granted ever, to be in the playoff race, to be a part of it. It’s a good one right now. Giants aren’t losing. So, they’re not making it easy on us. It’s going to be fun. Either way, we’re going to get a chance at the playoffs, so that’s going to be special.”