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By Jon Weisman
On Tuesday in Oakland, Clayton Kershaw and A.J. Ellis had big games, but they went for naught in an extra-inning defeat. Today in Houston, it happened again in a 3-2, 10-inning loss to Houston — the Dodgers’ fifth straight loss.
Brett Anderson, Clayton Kershaw, Brandon McCarthy and A.J. Ellis at Camelback Ranch in February.
Brandon McCarthy made a guest-writing appearance on Buster Olney’s ESPN Insider column today and provided great stuff on Zack Greinke and Clayton Kershaw. Here’s a small sample:
Kershaw is an extreme perfectionist. He’s fanatical about his routine. It’s set in stone and everything that needs to be done to prepare for his next start will be done on time with maximal effort. Once he’s at the field there is no one easier to find than Clayton. You don’t have to see him to know exactly where he is at any given time, you just have to know his routine.
Finding Greinke however, is like trying to find the wind. He’s found only when he makes himself discoverable. He describes his routine as being based on feel. Some days that means he needs to do eight sets of squats. Other days it means using a foam roller for an hour in a far corner of the weight room while reading a magazine. He disappears for hours at a time. He wanders around carrying a plate of food like he’s at an outdoor cocktail party. He’ll watch video when a certain player happens to be on his mind. A “routine” like this is usually a major red flag about a player. The best players in the game typically are known to live and die by their routine, but nobody knows what Zack needs better than Zack, so his anti-routine is never called into question.
— Jon Weisman
By Jon Weisman
Now that Clayton Kershaw is pitching the way everyone expects him to — which is to say, completely out of this world — the slings and arrows have been reduced to one lone sling.
The postseason.
It’s a credit to Kershaw that his latest accomplishments are so par for his course that some people don’t care about any of it because of the calendar. And Kershaw would be the first to take responsibility for not having finished more postseason starts with victory in hand.
But I’ll say this. It kills me to see fans near or far toss aside eight or nine shutout innings by Kershaw as irrelevant because it’s summer and not fall.
For one thing, Kershaw’s doesn’t deserve a reputation as a playoff goat. Let’s go through this again …
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By Jon Weisman
About 15 months ago, I studied every single start of Clayton Kershaw’s career to see how close he had come to throwing his first no-hitter. In his first 192 career starts, including the postseason, Kershaw has taken a no-hitter past the sixth inning only once.
Even since his now-famous June 18, 2014 no-hitter, it’s still rarer than you think, though I won’t press the point with Dodger fans who might think it’s happening all the time.
In the past month alone, Kershaw retired the first 18 New York Mets he faced July 18, and tonight, he set down the first 16 Washington Nationals before Michael Taylor’s booming double to dead center in the sixth inning of what became a 3-0 Dodger victory.
Pitching most of the game with a one-run lead provided by Carl Crawford’s RBI single in the third inning (scoring Joc Pederson), Kershaw had to approach his best work, and he did. He had the help of Kiké Hernandez, who made multiple sprawling plays while spot-starting at shortstop — including one that might have prevented Taylor from scoring in the sixth.
Kershaw allowed two more hits, but his closest call after that was Wilson Ramos’ deep fly that Crawford hauled in near the wall in left field. He left after eight innings, having walked none while striking out eight (becoming the first Dodger pitcher with six straight 200-strikeout seasons since Sandy Koufax).
One start after his 37-inning scoreless streak ended at Pittsburgh, Kershaw resumed the surge that has lowered his ERA from 4.32 on May 21 to 2.39 tonight.
In 103 2/3 innings over that stretch, Kershaw has a 1.30 ERA with 132 strikeouts against 80 baserunners. In his past 1,000 innings, Kershaw’s ERA is 2.12.
The Dodgers added some insurance in the bottom of the eighth when, after Pederson was hit by a pitch, pinch-hitter Andre Ethier doubled to the right-field corner. Both players scored when Anthony Rendon’s relay throw inexplicably sailed into the stands, though Crawford followed with his third hit of the night anyway.
Kenley Jansen struck out Bryce Harper to end the game, which at 2:20 was the third-shortest nine-inning game of the Dodger season. Washington was held scoreless for the final 19 innings of this series.
By Jon Weisman
Pitching prospect Julio Urias turned 19 today, 19 and still a Dodger, 12 days after the MLB non-waiver trade deadline.
Among other things, the occasion made me wonder whom a 19-year-old Clayton Kershaw might have been traded for, back in 2007.
By Jon Weisman
With three strikeouts tonight, Clayton Kershaw will have his sixth consecutive 200-strikeout season.
The only Dodger to strike out 200 in six straight years is Sandy Koufax (1961-66). The only other Major Leaguers to do it are …
Hernandez has 145 strikeouts this season.
By Jon Weisman
“Life moves pretty fast,” warned Ferris Bueller, no doubt with Jose Peraza in mind.
With Howie Kendrick and his strained left hamstring officially headed to the disabled list, Peraza — the 21-year-old infielder acquired from Atlanta in the Dodgers’ July 30 three-team deal — has been called up to make his Major League debut for Los Angeles.
Born on April 30, 1994 — the day that the Dodgers rallied from a 10-5, eighth-inning deficit to beat the Mets — Peraza is poised to become the youngest Dodger since Clayton Kershaw made his debut on May 25, 2008 at 20 years and 67 days. And, he’ll be the Dodgers’ youngest position player since Adrian Beltre, who was 19 when he was called up in 1998.
Peraza has a .318 on-base percentage and .379 slugging percentage in Triple-A this season, numbers that have soared to .415 and .590 since moving to Oklahoma City. He has also stolen 27 bases in 34 attempts this year.
Kendrick has a .341 OBP and .418 slugging percentage in his first season with the Dodgers and is fifth among National League second basemen in wins above replacement. Since July 20, Kendrick was hitting .396/.420/.583.
Also tonight, Scott Van Slyke is making his second career start batting in the No. 3 spot, and first since May 15, 2012. Kiké Hernandez is making his third career start batting fifth.
Also, Carlos Frias is back on the disabled list with lower back tightness. Frias was optioned to the minors earlier this month, but technically, that action has been voided.
Update: Van Slyke and Puig have shifted spots in the lineup.
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By Jon Weisman
Clayton Kershaw had pitched 37 straight shutout innings, the last 25 of them against the Nationals, Mets and Angels — teams that are a combined 21 games above .500. Strength of schedule has not been an issue for Kershaw.
But Kershaw, by his own admission, wasn’t sharp in the Dodgers’ 5-4, 10-inning loss Friday to Pittsburgh. He allowed four runs (most since May 21) on 12 baserunners (most since May 10) in six innings (fewest since June 17) while striking out five (tying a season low).
“It was a tough one,” Kershaw said, according to Bill Plunkett of the Register. “I struggled all the way through pretty much. I didn’t have good stuff. I was getting to two strikes, wasn’t putting anyone away.”
There were unforced errors: a first-pitch home run by Gregory Polanco, a bases-loaded walk to Chris Stewart (Kershaw’s first since allowing one to Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright on July 24, 2012). But it’s not as if fate made the game easy on him. Kershaw was hit by baseballs three times — twice on defense, once while batting.
By Jon Weisman
One of the amusing parts of the hysteric reaction many had to Clayton Kershaw’s early-season struggles — such as they were — was sitting back and going, “Everyone’s asking ‘What’s wrong with Kershaw?’ Watch him win another Cy Young Award.”
Well …
Zack Greinke, for all his ongoing greatness, allowed six runs Thursday. Max Scherzer has a 3.86 ERA in his past six starts. And so we have this:
Kershaw wouldn’t win the award if there was a vote today, but thanks to a 37-inning scoreless streak (detailed here) and a 1.10 ERA in his past 12 starts, he has closed the gap considerably. You could say he’s No. 3 with a bullet.
Fielding-independent pitching is the key here. No, it’s not that so many voters value FIP or xFIP over more conventional stats. But by leading the National League in those two categories — by significant margins — Kershaw shows that he’s the most likely of the Cy Young contenders to finish the season strong. Just as his league-leading xFIP of 2.15 on May 21 — when his ERA was 4.32 — showed that Kershaw was actually underrated (yep, I wrote that) and not worth all the panic.
Then there’s Kershaw’s history. From 2011-14, Kershaw’s ERA after the All-Star break was 1.70. His worst post-All-Star ERA in that time was 2.10 in 2012.
In other words, between bad luck and Kershaw’s proven level of dedication and determination, it would have been more surprising if Kershaw hadn’t launched himself into Cy Young contention. Instead, a fourth award is within reach — a milestone achieved only by Roger Clemens, Randy Johnson, Steve Carlton and Greg Maddux.
Kershaw probably won’t win the award if he doesn’t capture what would be a fifth-straight ERA title. Right now, the award is still Greinke’s — especially if the Dodger righty keeps that ERA below 2.00. With his league-leading Wins Above Replacement, Scherzer is surely in the running as well.
And there are other threats. There’s Jacob deGrom and his 2.09 ERA pitching the Mets to a surprising NL East lead (remember, the only time Kershaw has lost a Cy Young since 2011 was to a Met, R.A. Dickey). Gerrit Cole — tonight’s opponent for Kershaw and the Dodgers in a sterling matchup at Pittsburgh — also has a lower ERA than Kershaw’s and a chance at a 20-win season for those who still care. Jake Arrietta of the Cubs is sort of a blend of the deGrom and Cole candidacies. Arrietta is nearly as hot as Kershaw right now, with a 1.37 ERA in his past nine starts.
Who do you think will win?
Tiffany Billingsley (left) has been quietly going through chemotherapy to beat a rare but aggressive form of cancer called gestational choriocarcinoma. (MLB.com)
By Jon Weisman
Before the first of three midweek day games this month, followed by August 19 at Oakland and August 27 at Cincinnati, here is some quick news, led by a life-and-death story …
By Jon Weisman
For the fourth time in the past five seasons, Clayton Kershaw has been named National League Pitcher of the Month for July.
Kershaw won the award even though his eight shutout innings on Saturday, July 32 weren’t counted. In the 31 previous days, the 27-year-old lefty pitched 33 innings and allowed one run for a 0.27 ERA (1.31 xFIP), walking two and striking out 45.
It was not an easy month to win the award. Among the competition was teammate Zack Greinke (38 innings, 0.95 ERA, 2.89 xFIP) and Chicago Cubs pitchers Jon Lester (43 1/3 innings, 1.66 ERA, 2.31 xFIP) and Jake Arrieta (42 2/3 innings, 1.90 ERA, 2.56 xFIP).
Kershaw previously won the July honor in 2011, 2013 and 2014. He also won the award for June 2014, becoming the first Dodger to be so honored in two consecutive months since Burt Hooton in 1975.
Since May 26, Clayton Kershaw is batting .194, and the 329 batters he has faced are batting .162.
— Dodger Insider (@DodgerInsider) August 3, 2015
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By Jon Weisman
Andre Ethier was 0 for 3, then Andre Ethier was the hero.
The Dodgers were pathetic chokers, then the Dodgers were gritty survivors.
Change one swing of the bat, and you change the entire perception of a player and a team.
No sport lends itself to microanalysis the way baseball does. Every play — practically every pitch — has such ripe implications.
The problem is that there’s such a widespread expectation for ballplayers to be consistent that any deviation, any break in the pattern, is often perceived as a cataclysmic shift.
Baseball players aren’t arrows, rising and setting through the sky in a predictable arc. They’re fireworks, bursting in every direction and every different color, never the same from moment to moment.
Andre Ethier. Joc Pederson. Kenley Jansen. We’ve even seen it with Clayton Kershaw. For nearly two months to start the season, he wasn’t at the precision-perfect top of his game — and the now infamous “What’s wrong with Kershaw?” stories sprouted like weeds. There was not enough middle, not enough understanding that baseball isn’t static, but rather a continual process, filled with growth and regression and adjustment and counter-adjustment.
For his last 37 innings, Kershaw has been what so many expect him to be. His maximum is the minimum. Yet if he gives up four runs in his next start, even if he gives up five in the one after that, it doesn’t mean that he has suddenly lost it. Everyone (including Kershaw) will analyze what might have gone wrong, but more likely than not, it will just be the latest ebb, with the next flow not far behind.
It bears reminding that an ERA does not represent what a pitcher will do every game. It is the average of experiences, good and bad, great and awful. Kershaw’s 2015 ERA in 21 starts is 2.37, but do you know how many individual games he’s had an ERA has been between 2.00 and 3.00? Two.
We expect Kershaw’s next inning to be a shutout inning, but we never really know, do we? We never really know anything until it’s happened, which might be why we’re so prone to passionate judgments after the fact.
Baseball’s wonder is that it is so predictable and unpredictable all at once. Baseball makes you a cynic and an optimist. Baseball is conflict.
Is it any wonder that as baseball fans, we can feel so tortured? Or that we keep coming back for more?
.@ClaytonKersh22 is red hot, and the Angels had no answer. WATCH: http://t.co/wNYi2WeHVY @Headshoulders #Whiff pic.twitter.com/UvZeMn5CF4
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) August 2, 2015
By Jon Weisman
Well, you figured an MVP was going to do well today.
In the first-ever regular-season meeting between reigning Most Valuable Players, pitcher vs. hitter, Clayton Kershaw got the best of Mike Trout, and rolled right on in his latest march toward history.
Setting the tone with a Trout-freezing curveball in the first inning for strike three, then allowing only three baserunners in his eight shutout innings during today’s 3-1 victory over the Angels, Kershaw has extended his current scoreless-innings streak to 37, which is …
According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Kershaw is the first pitcher with two single-season scoreless streaks of at least 37 innings since Luis Tiant in 1968 and 1972.
Opponents are hitting .135/.148/.151 during the streak, for an OPS of .299.
Though he did walk his first batter since before the streak began (striking out 46 in between), Kershaw has thrown nine straight innings without a runner getting past first base and 25 straight without a runner getting past second base.
Only eight of the 128 batters Kershaw has faced during the streak have reached scoring position. Only two of 128 have reached third base.
The big lefty’s 2015 ERA is down to 2.37, which marks the first time this season that it is below his career ERA (now 2.47). In 12 starts since May 26, Kershaw has a 1.10 ERA with 119 strikeouts and only 12 walks in 89 2/3 innings, averaging 7.5 innings per start.
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.
By Jon Weisman
After delaying his scheduled Wednesday start because of a sore hip, Clayton Kershaw threw a bullpen session Thursday and was pronounced fit.
But with the luxury of having Zack Greinke available on four days’ rest tonight, the Dodgers are giving Kershaw one more day of rest before bringing him back the mound Saturday.
Greinke will be starting for the first time since Sunday, when his 45 2/3-inning scoreless streak ended. The third batter he faces will be Angels star Mike Trout, who himself missed time this week with a sore wrist. The two faced each other July 14 in the first inning of the All-Star Game, when Trout hit a leadoff home run.
Kershaw and Greinke have a chance, according to the Elias Sports Bureau, to become the teammates with the lowest ERA in a calendar month ever. The record is 0.49 by Orel Hershiser and Tim Belcher in (surprise) September 1988. Greinke basically needs to pitch shutout ball, because even if he allows only one run in a complete game, the duo’s ERA would rise to 0.50.
Southern California’s other 23-year-old center fielder, Joc Pederson, is resting tonight, and Don Mattingly said that Pederson might sit out one or two more games this weekend to get him some rest and allow him to regroup mentally from a July in which he has had a .488 OPS. Mattingly made clear that it was not a punitive benching.
What happens when three old friends in crisis fall into an unexpected love triangle? In The Catch, Maya, Henry and Daniel embark upon an emotional journey that forces them to confront unresolved pain, present-day traumas and powerful desires, leading them to question the very meaning of love and fulfillment. The Catch tells a tale of ordinary people seeking the extraordinary – or, if that’s asking too much, some damn peace of mind.
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