Kershaw bringing new angle into Game 1 start

LOS ANGELES — And now he’s throwing sidearm?

Players coming off injuries are supposed to be diminished in some way, not enhanced, but this is just like Clayton Kershaw. When he takes his usual spot on Friday as the Dodgers’ starting pitcher in Game 1 of the National League Division Series in Washington, you’ll need to look closely to see the negative effects of a herniated disk that sidelined him for 2 1/2 months.

Kershaw went seven innings in his final tuneup on Saturday, but he said he could have gone eight or nine. He allowed a solo homer and two other runs, one unearned, with no run support in a 3-0 loss in San Francisco. Since his return Sept. 9, he’s 1-2 with a 0.96 ERA, 27 strikeouts and two walks in five starts, enough to get his pitch count up to 91. Before discomfort during a June 26 loss in Pittsburgh put him on the disabled list, he had been pitching even better than his 2014 MVP season (maybe better than anyone’s season) — 11-1 with a 1.57 ERA, 145 strikeouts and only nine walks.

Game Date Time Matchup TV Gm 1 Oct. 7 TBD LAD @ WSH FS1 / MLBN Gm 2 Oct. 8 TBD LAD @ WSH FS1 / MLBN Gm 3 Oct. 10 TBD WAS @ LAD FS1 / MLBN *Gm 4 Oct. 11 TBD WAS @ LAD FS1 *Gm 5 Oct. 13 TBD LAD @ WSH FS1 *- If necessaryShop for postseason gear: Dodgers | Nationals • Complete Postseason coverage

Kershaw has dominated the Nationals the way he has all of baseball. He is 10-2 with a 2.02 ERA and 0.89 WHIP in 13 career starts and one relief outing vs. Washington. Kershaw’s only start against Washington this year was a 4-1 win at home — one run in seven innings, eight strikeouts and no walks. He’s neutralized Nationals …

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