Clayton Kershaw will get the ball sometime in NLDS Game 5

By Jeff Lombardi Jr.

Dave Roberts says that Kershaw will piggyback Buehler and pitch more than one inning.

I happen to like what Bruce Schein said on Tuesday’s High Heat with Christopher Russo. Schein said don’t be surprised to see Kershaw—not closer Kenley Jansen—on the mound to get the final outs.

Clayton Kershaw took the ball in Game Two of this Washington series…and lost. It got pretty ugly, pretty quick. Four of the first five batters reached base: double, walk, hit by pitch, single. The only out was a lousy bunt that was popped up. The 26 pitches was his second-highest total of any first inning he pitched all season – yet he escaped allowing just one run. Victor Robles was hit by pitch to lead off the second inning, Kershaw’s second HBP after facing just eight batters – he had hit just two of the 706 batters he faced during the regular season. After a pair of two out, RBI knocks Kershaw and the Dodgers were looking up at a 3-0 deficit through the first two frames.

Kershaw was able to write the ship, allowing just two additional baserunners to reach over his final four innings of work, but the damage was already done. The Nationals evened the series at one game apiece and what the Twitter-sphere has labeled as “Playoff Kershaw” was in full effect.

 Clayton Kershaw

Career Postseason Statistics – 31 G/25 GS

W-L      9-11

ERA    4.33

IP        158

*LAD: 15-16 record in PS games Kershaw has appeared in

Kershaw has appeared in 10 of 16 season ending or series clinching games for the Dodgers over his postseason career, including 10 of the last 13.

Clayton Kershaw appearances in Dodgers season ending/clinching games

YEAR              SERIES/GM              OPP    IP        RESULT

2010                NLCS  5                      PHI     5-6       L

2013                NLDS  4                      ATL    GS-6    W

2013                NLCS  6                      STL     GS-5    L

2014                NLDS  4                      STL     GS-7    L

2016                NLDS  5                      WSN   9-GF   W

2016                NLCS  6                      CHC    GS-5    L

2017                NLCS  5                      CHC    GS-6    W

2017                WS      7                      HOU   3-6       L

2018                NLCS  7                      MIL    9-GF   W

2018                WS      5                      BOS    GS-7    L

Let’s take a look back at Kershaw’s postseason relief appearances. Everyone remembers his postseason clunkers (though he has had his fair share of stellar performances – 6 starts of 7+ IP, 1 R or fewer) but you may not remember all, if any of Kershaw the postseason reliever. Here are the few note-worthy ones. He appeared in several games in the 2008 and 2009 LCS in relatively low-leverage spots.

 2016 NLDS, Game 5

The Line: 1 app, 0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 K, 0 BB, SV

Potentially his most memorable moment came in a winner take all Game 5 of the 2016 NLDS against…the Washington Nationals. After LA starter Rich Hill lasted just 2.2 innings, a trio of relivers –one being Julio Urias, combined to log the middle 3.1 innings. Dodgers “closer” Kenley Jansen was forced to enter the game three batters into the 7^th inning with LA clinging to a one run lead. After striking out Trea Turner to lead off the 9^th, Jansen who was clearly laboring, issued free passes to Bryce Harper and Jayson Werth. First year skipper, Dave Roberts called on Kershaw to secure the game’s final two outs, still holding on to that one run lead. Seven pitches and two outs later, Kershaw had the first save of his big league career and the Dodgers were moving on to the NLCS.

 2017 World Series, Game 7

The Line: 1 app, 4 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 4 K, 2 BB

After earning the Game 1 win as a starter (7 IP, 1 R) and taking a no decision (4.2 IP, 6 R) in Game 5, a 13-12 extra-innings loss at the hand of the Astros, Kershaw found himself back on the mound in Game 7. The Dodgers fell in a hole early after to start Yu Darvish who yielded 5 runs over 1.2 innings of work. Kershaw came in to start the third and proceeded to strikeout four over four scoreless innings, but it was too little too late. LA lost the game and the series, as the Astros won their first World Series title in franchise history.

 2018 NLCS, Game 7

The Line: 1 app, 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 K, 0 BB

In the decisive Game 7 of last year’s NLCS, Kershaw again followed Jansen nailing down the final outs of a Dodgers postseason series. This time with a much more comfortable 5-1 lead over the Brewers, Kershaw retired Travis Shaw on a groundout before striking out Jesus Aguliar and Mike Moustakas as the Dodgers captured their second consecutive National League pennant.