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Kershaw’s postseason reputation misleading
- Updated: October 12, 2016
Clayton Kershaw looked on from the dugout while the inning he started lived on. It was the seventh frame of Tuesday night’s Game 4 of the National League Division Series between the Dodgers and the Nationals in Los Angeles, and Kershaw was responsible for all three of the men on base in a three-run game.
Pedro Baez took the mound in an attempt to preserve the lead. Baez threw one pitch, hit Jayson Werth, forced in a run, and out went Baez. Kershaw might not have flashbacks, but he’s seen this situation before. In came Luis Avilan. He threw two pitches, the latter of which hit Daniel Murphy’s bat, landed in the outfield grass, and two runs scored. Game tied.
Game Date Time Matchup TV/Highlights Gm 1 Oct. 7 LAD 4, WAS 3 Gm 2 Oct. 9 WSH 5, LAD 2 Gm 3 Oct. 10 WAS 8, LAD 3 Gm 4 Oct. 11 LAD 6, WAS 5 Gm 5 Oct. 13 8 p.m. LAD @ WSH FS1 All times listed ET • Division Series start time scenarios • Dodgers vs. Nationals NLDS coverageShop for postseason gear: Dodgers | Nationals
• FanGraphs’ Eno Sarris investigates how John Lackey attacks lefties
The Dodgers went on to win the game, 6-5, forcing a Game 5 (Thursday at 8 p.m. ET/5 PT, FS1), so in hindsight, what happened in this inning doesn’t matter much. But Kershaw’s pitching line won’t change: 6 2/3 IP, 7 H, 5 ER, 2 BB, 11 K’s, 0 HRs. That said, Kershaw pitched much better than that line might indicate. In fact, all things considered — pitching on three days’ rest, throwing a 27-pitch first inning, being asked to throw 110 pitches and facing Bryce Harper three times — you might say Kershaw pitched brilliantly. And yet, his ERA for the day was 6.75.
Kershaw’s ERA for his entire postseason career is now 4.83 in 76 1/3 innings. The narrative lives on. The world’s best pitcher somehow crumbles in October, the naysayers claim. But is it really Kershaw who’s crumbled, or has it been his bullpen?
It started back in 2008, when a 20-year-old Kershaw came out of the Dodgers’ bullpen in the sixth inning of Game 4 of the NL Championship Series against the Phillies, relieving Derek Lowe. Kershaw put Ryan Howard and Pat Burrell on with a walk and a single before Shane Victorino bunted them over and Kershaw was pulled. In came Chan Ho Park, who retired the …
