The game was only ’s third of the season. manager stressed that point on Tuesday night when revisiting his decision to take out Kershaw in the fifth inning of a promising start against the . “It’s about continuing to build up, so then he has a base and a foundation to keep going,” Roberts said.
“So, right now, for me, it was an easy one.” The key words: Right now. By the time Kershaw takes his next turn in the rotation, the Dodgers might not have the luxury of removing him at the first sign of trouble.
By the time they’re in the playoffs, they almost certainly won’t be able to manage him as cautiously as they would a rookie. Even after and the acquisition of the best pitcher , the Dodgers are back to where they usually are at this time of the year. They’re back to depending on Clayton Kershaw.
They might not like the idea of staking their season on a 36-year-old who underwent over the winter, but their situation leaves them no other choice. In the wake of in the second game of their three-game series at Dodger Stadium, their lead over the in the National League West was down to four games. Their injury-prone rotation has predictably unraveled, and Kershaw might have to pitch effectively for the Dodgers to have a realistic chance of winning the World Series.
and will lead their staff for the remainder of the regular season and beyond, but whom do they have behind them? Three starting pitchers will likely be required in the National League Division Series, fou.