Kershaw out to finally Cy’s up in the playoffs
LOS ANGELES — You say “Clayton Kershaw” and you envision as dominant a left-handed starter as the baseball landscape has seen in recent seasons. You think of a horse, a strikeout-producing Dodgers machine who could shut down Murderers’ Row.
But you say “Clayton Kershaw in the playoffs” and you envision a guy who might not make the 1962 Mets’ rotation.
So Kershaw will battle the ghosts of playoffs past when he squares off against the Mets in Game 1 of the NLDS Friday. Kershaw, who struck out a world-best 301 and posted a 2.13 ERA in an MLB-high 232 2/3 innings, said he is not driven by any redemption factor, even if his career postseason numbers are 1-5 with a 5.12 ERA, including 0-2 last season, when he surrendered 11 earned runs in 12 2/3 innings in the NLDS against St. Louis.
“I think I’ll have enough. I don’t need to be fueled by too much,” Kershaw said Thursday. “I definitely remember, but it’s a new team, new season, and hopefully for me, a new outcome.”
Kershaw, a three-time Cy Young Award winner, and righty colleague Zack Greinke are viewed by many as the weights that tip the balance of the series to the Dodgers. Mets starters are high quality, but they’re not Kershaw.
“He is better than everybody, but he hasn’t been that in the playoffs so far,” one rival executive said. “That’s his one weak area. … But I think Kershaw is going to take off this year. It’s such a good curveball, such a good fastball. He’s an athlete, he’s got aptitude and feel. He’s got more weapons than lefties with his stuff. The way he throws strikes, he’s unflappable. He’s just a special guy and he’s on track to the Hall of Fame. He’s got a chance to be the best pitcher for a long period of time as long as he stays healthy.”
And improves his playoff numbers. He gets a shot starting Friday. The past is history and tomorrow is a mystery so Kershaw is focused on the here and now — which can help erase the sting of those hurtful playoffs.
“The goal is always to make it to the playoffs, regardless of where you ended up last year, and the goal is always to win the whole thing. Every team says that in spring training,” Kershaw said. “The way I look at it, 29 teams fail every year, and one team succeeds. No different for us. No different for me personally.”
Kershaw faced the Mets twice this season, winning once. He struck out 18 in 16 innings and gave up one earned run. See? He’s mortal. But Kershaw realizes these Mets are different than those July Mets.
“It’s a completely different lineup, not just [Yoenis] Cespedes. You go back and look at the lineup I faced before the trade deadline, and I don’t know if there’s going to be more than two or three guys that are the same,” Kershaw said.
But those guys who are still around know what they will see Friday at Dodgers Stadium.
“He fills the strike zone. He’s got late movement on all of his pitches, velocity on all his pitches,” Michael Cuddyer said. “He’s got a good idea. He knows what he’s doing and he’s not scared. That mentality with his stuff makes him as good as he is.”
Even those unsure why Kershaw is Kershaw, praise him.
“I don’t know what makes him a great pitcher,” Cespedes said. “I just know he is a tremendous pitcher. I said before he’s a pitcher like any other and we’ve got great pitching too. We just have to go do our thing.”