Kershaw's April below the lofty standard set last year
Clayton Kershaw will finish the month of April with a record of 1-2 and an ERA of 3.73. This is not bad, but perhaps a shock to some given his dominant 1.77 ERA to end last season. Although he was injured during the month of April last year, through his first five starts of 2014 he actually had a comparable ERA of 3.49 (but with a record of 3-1).
Mark Saxon of ESPN points out that two of Kershaw’s starts this year have come against Madison Bumgarner, and one against James Shields. The Dodger lineup for his latest start also featured “a lineup of players who have spent a good deal of their working hours at Triple-A stadiums in recent seasons,” according to Saxon. Among the unusual features of Tuesday’s lineup were Kike Hernandez playing center field and Justin Turner batting third.
Manager Don Mattingly said the following about Kershaw going forward:
"I think he's just getting better and better as the season's going on. I think that's the one thing we see.”
He certainly improved his 3.49 ERA after five starts last year.
(h/t ESPN LA)
Photo credit: Rick Scuteri/USA TODAY Sports
