Kershaw returns to surging Dodgers club

In the 74 days since Clayton Kershaw most recently threw a pitch for the Los Angeles Dodgers, plenty has changed. Most notably — and most dramatically — the standings. In less than 11 weeks, the Dodgers have made up 13 games. Yes, you read that correctly.

Los Angeles trailed the Giants by eight games in the National League West when Kershaw walked off the mound with an aching back on June 26. As the Dodgers prepare for Kershaw’s return in Miami on Friday, they lead by five games.

Sure, the Giants have had their troubles (25-37) since then, but the Dodgers have done their part in running up the second-best record in the Majors at 38-24.

How they’ve done it is the amazing part. They’ve used 11 starting pitchers, including five rookies. They’ve put five more starters on the disabled list.

And it hasn’t mattered.

Starting pitching? Who needs it?

The 11 starters used during Kershaw’s absence have thrown the fewest innings in the Majors and averaged fewer than five innings per start. Rookies Kenta Maeda and Julio Urias have been very solid. But as a group, the rotation has posted a 4.91 ERA (ranked 19th among 30 Major League teams) since the staff ace went down.

The Dodgers have gone 38-24 anyway because their strengths are greater than their weaknesses. Their bullpen led the Majors in innings while Kershaw was sidelined, and it compiled a solid 3.59 ERA. Their offense has averaged five runs per game, good for sixth highest overall in the big leagues.

Los Angeles has homered 83 times in 62 games, and the club is on a pace for its most in a full season since 2004. Four Dodgers have have hit 20 long balls in a season for the first time since ’01: third baseman Justin Turner (25), catcher Yasmani Grandal (24), rookie shortstop Corey Seager (24) and center fielder Joc Pederson (20).

Seager has emerged as one of the five best players in the game, hitting .345 with eight home runs in this …

continue reading in source mlb.mlb.com