Clayton Kershaw is approaching a milestone and recovering from an injury and feels fortunate to have Dave Roberts as his manager to help him navigate both.
Kershaw showed off his signature effectiveness by improving to 4-0 with a win over the Colorado Rockies on Thursday, after which he expressed his appreciation for the Los Angeles Dodgers manager in what was his 216th career major-league win.
Kershaw is three strikeouts from becoming the 20th member of the 3,000-strikeout club after posting five in the Dodgers’ 3-1 win at Coors Field. Roberts told reporters he would pull Kershaw if he was approaching the milestone Thursday to ensure the 18-year veteran would reach the mark at Dodger Stadium.
Why Does Clayton Kershaw Appreciate Dave Roberts?
Kershaw threw just 69 pitches over six innings while allowing just two hits and one earned run while walking one against the Rockies. Roberts replaced him with Kirby Yates, and the LA bullpen combined to throw three hitless innings.
“You always want to be efficient no matter what. I think my days of throwing 115 pitches are probably over, but I think getting through six is probably the biggest thing at Coors Field,” Kershaw said after the game. “[Roberts] is doing a good job of protecting me, which I appreciate.”
The Dodgers have built their roster with excess depth, even in spite of their rash of pitching injuries, so they can help their players be ready for the postseason. Kershaw is recovering from knee and toe surgeries in the off-season, which may require fewer pitches and more time between starts, which the Dodgers have afforded him.
“I want to just be able to back out there every fifth or sixth day, so whatever that means for me is good for now,â he said.
Even at 37 years old and while still contributing, Kershaw is still getting acclimated to his new way of doing his job.
“I think there’s good days and bad days — good pitches and bad pitches,” Kershaw said. “I’m not as consistent — not as perfect — as I would want. But the results have been OK, and at the end of the day we’re winning on days I’m on the mound.
“It’s a product of being on a great team.”
When Will Clayton Kershaw Reach 3,000 Strikeouts?
Kershaw is averaging 3.6 strikeouts per start but has at least four Ks in each of his past four outings. Just three Ks away from the milestone, he expects to reach and surpass the mark Wednesday against the Chicago White Sox.
“It would be [special],” Kershaw said of achieving the milestone strikeout at Dodger Stadium.
He will only have one shot on the upcoming six-game homestand, since LA will host Chicago and the Houston Astros before taking to the road again for six games before the All-Star break. Chicago has the eighth-most strikeouts in baseball (707), averaging about nine per game.
Kershaw admitted his teammates are excited for him to celebrate and are keeping him aware of how close he is to achieving it — even if the veteran is more focused on trying to give the Dodgers a chance to win games.
“[Dodgers first baseman] Freddie [Freeman] is really good at reminding me every day,” Kershaw said. “Pitched well, got through six [innings] and the chance to strike out three at home would be really cool.”
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