Clayton Kershaw is enjoying a red-hot start to the 2013 campaign, and for his efforts he was named the National League Player of the Week on Monday.
Kershaw is 2-0 after two starts, and has yet to give up an earned run in a MLB-high 16 innings pitched.
On Opening Day against the defending champion Giants, legendary Dodger Sandy Koufax threw out the first pitch, but it was Kershaw who stole the show after becoming just the second pitcher in MLB history to toss a shutout and hit a home run in the same game. The 94-pitch shutout was the sixth of his career - with three of those coming against the rival-Giants - and it marked his third straight Opening Day win dating back to 2011, the year he went on to win the NL Cy Young.
“What an awesome feeling," said Kershaw after the win. "It was so much fun.”
Kershaw, who is tied for first with a 0.00 ERA and sits in third with 16 strikeouts, followed up his historic Opening Day performance by pitching seven scoreless innings with nine strikeouts and just two hits in a 1-0 win against the Pirates at Dodger Stadium.
Check out Matt Kemp congratulating Kershaw, who has yet to strike a deal with the club.
Show some love 2 my boy @claytonkersh22 for earning NL player of the week. Exciting week in @dodgers baseball! Hope 2 see all of LA in SD!
— Matt Kemp (@TheRealMattKemp) April 8, 2013
