Inside Clayton Kershaw’s scoreless-inning streak

By Jon Weisman

If he gets through the first inning of today’s start without allowing a run, Clayton Kershaw will be more than halfway to Orel Hershiser’s record streak of 59 consecutive scoreless innings.

Twice in the past two seasons, we’ve seen the second half of the climb prove unassailable, with Kershaw’s 41-inning streak last summer and Zack Greinke’s 45 2/3-inning runless run that ended Sunday. But Kershaw’s current run of 29 consecutive scoreless innings is worth a look.

During the streak, opponents have a .157 on-base percentage and .168 slugging percentage against Kershaw.

In retrospect, it’s a bit surprising Kershaw’s streak is as long as it is. Against the Phillies on July 8, he was in regular trouble, allowing eight hits, with six of them reaching scoring position.

However, Kershaw enters today having thrown 17 straight innings without a runner getting past second base. Only two opponents have been in scoring position in that time.

From the seventh inning against the Nationals through the sixth inning July 23 against the Mets, Kershaw retired 25 batters in a row.

Perhaps most impressively, Kershaw has struck out 42 batters during the streak without walking any (though he did hit Carlos Ruiz in the second inning July 8). Overall, Kershaw has struck out 45 batters in a row since his last walk, and 56 batters since he last gave up a home run — to Matt Szczur of the Cubs in the seventh inning June 22.

No one has an extra-base hit against Kershaw since Ruiz’s ninth-inning double more than three weeks ago.

The combined July numbers of Kershaw and Greinke were astounding: a 0.63 ERA with 79 strikeouts and eight walks.