22 Clayton Kershaw SP

Kershaw has begun to ease up on his workouts while waiting for news about a resumption of play, he stated in an interview on the podcast "Off Air" with Joe Davis and Orel Hershiser.

"When I came home, I was still just kind of full-go, you know, throwing every day, lifting like I would. And then the past two weeks, I've kind of taken it a little easier, only throwing four days a week and kind of did some lighter workouts just to try and, you know, if this season goes longer than it should, just to try and be able to maintain it throughout. And then, this past week, I've started to ramp up again this week, these past two days, and, you know, with the thought of a potential maybe, you know, July start date, or something like that," Kershaw said on the podcast. The southpaw is currently at his home in Texas and noted that he has been limited to mostly throwing in his backyard. Kershaw is slated to be the Dodgers' Opening Day starter for the ninth time in his career when the 2020 season commences.

Kershaw pitched four scoreless innings against the Tijuana Toros (a Mexican minor-league team) Monday, allowing three hits and two walks while striking out four.

On the day he was named the Dodgers' Opening Day starter for the ninth time in his career, Kershaw took on a team of minor leaguers and was mostly sharp while hurling a spring-high 67 pitches. Kershaw has looked fully healthy in Cactus League play after missing parts of the last four seasons with various injuries.

Kershaw was named the Dodgers' starter for Opening Day on Monday, David Vassegh of AM 570 LA Sports reports.

After a fully healthy offseason and spring training, Kershaw will serve as the starter for Opening Day as he enters his 13th season with the Dodgers. The southpaw has made two starts this spring, recording eight strikeouts and a 0.86 WHIP over 4.2 scoreless innings. Kershaw has been limited by injuries over the last four seasons, but he'll look to remain healthy and effective heading into his age-32 season.

Kershaw is scheduled to pitch in a minor-league camp game Monday, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports.

The 31-year-old has looked sharp during his first two spring outings, allowing only two hits across 4.2 scoreless innings and racking up eight strikeouts. Kershaw's 3.03 ERA during 2019 was his highest mark since his rookie season in 2008. The three-time National League Cy Young Award winner continues to hold himself to high standards entering his thirteenth campaign with the Dodgers.

Kershaw pitched three scoreless innings against the Giants in Cactus League play Wednesday, allowing two hits and striking out four.

The veteran southpaw found himself amid some rare spring-training fireworks after hitting Giants catcher Rob Brantly in the second inning, possibly in response to teammate Justin Turner being hit with a pitch on the left hand in the first frame. Cooler heads prevailed, and Kershaw walked off the mound having completed 4.2 scoreless innings thus far in spring. He'll have a few more tune-ups before potentially taking the mound for the Dodgers on Opening Day.

Kershaw pitched 1.2 scoreless innings in his first Cactus League start Friday, allowing two walks and striking out four. He did not give up a hit.

The veteran southpaw struck out a pair of batters in an efficient 11-pitch first inning before giving up a pair of walks in a 26-pitch second. Of greater importance, Kershaw hit 93 mph with his fastball in the outing, per Ken Gurnick of MLB.com. His velocity on the pitch averaged 90.3 mph last season.

Kershaw spent time at the Driveline Baseball academy in the offseason, Pedro Moura of The Athletic reports.

While Kershaw enjoyed another All-Star season in 2019, he posted a 3.03 ERA -- his highest since his rookie campaign. Kershaw still holds a place among baseball's top pitchers, and the Dodgers and fantasy managers should be optimistic about the knowledge he gathered at Driveline considering the program's esteemed reputation. Any tangible improvement could vault the southpaw back into the top 10 among fantasy starters.

Kershaw enjoyed a fully healthy offseason during which he lost "maybe six or seven [pounds]," Ken Gurnick of MLB.com reports.

Per Gurnick, Kershaw maintained constant activity throughout the offseason in an effort to stay ready for the coming campaign. The Dodgers are hoping that their longtime ace can maintain a full season of good health after he missed all of spring training and the first three weeks of the 2019 campaign due to a shoulder issue. While his numbers have slipped slightly over the last two seasons, Kershaw remains an elite starting pitcher both in real life and on fantasy squads.

Kershaw will be available out of the bullpen for Game 5 of the NLDS against the Nationals on Wednesday, but manager Dave Roberts clarified he wouldn't necessarily "piggyback" off starter Walker Buehler as previously said, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports.

Roberts said he meant Kershaw wouldn't be limited to a one-batter or one-inning situation Wednesday, which makes sense given he'll have received a full four days rest heading into the decisive game. It will be all hands on deck out of the bullpen in Game 5 for the Dodgers. The veteran left-hander gave up three runs on six hits and a walk while striking out four across six innings during his start in Game 2.

Kershaw could be "piggybacking with Walker Buehler at some point" in Game 5 of the NLDS on Wednesday against the Nationals, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports.

Kershaw will be available to pitch in the final game of the series, and according to skipper Dave Roberts, the initial plan is for the southpaw to follow Buehler, who will start the matchup. Kershaw surrendered three runs on six hits and a walk while fanning four over six frames in Game 2.

Kershaw will receive the start for Game 2 of the National League Division Series against the Nationals on Friday, Jorge Castillo of the Los Angeles Times reports.

The 31-year-old will take the mound Friday after a season in which his ERA rose to 3.03 with a 1.04 WHIP, although he recorded a 16-5 record. Kershaw has struggled in past postseason appearances, carrying a career 4.32 ERA with a 9-10 record in his 30 playoff outings.

Kershaw (16-5) allowed two hits and one walk while striking out seven across six scoreless innings to earn the win Thursday against the Padres.

Kershaw held the Padres in check, racking up 15 called strikes and 15 swinging strikes on 90 total pitches. While he's been spectacular for much of the season, Thursday's outing did end a six-start stretch in which he had allowed at least one home run -- surrendering multiple long balls on four occasions. Despite struggling with the long ball, Kershaw will close the 2019 regular season with a 3.05 ERA and 1.05 WHIP with 188 strikeouts across 177.1 frames.

Kershaw (15-5) earned the win Friday against the Rockies, giving up four runs on eight hits and a walk while striking out five across six innings.

Despite surrendering three home runs, Kershaw still managed to turn in the win, improving his career record against the Rockies to 23-8. Kershaw's nemeses Charlie Blackmon and Nolan Arenado got to him once again, this time with back-to-back home runs in the first inning, each tallying the fourth homer of their careers against the 31-year-old. Kershaw also served up a home run to Garrett Hampson in the fourth. The southpaw now owns a 3.15 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 181:40 K:BB this season and will look to keep the ball in the park during his last start of the regular season Thursday at San Diego.

Kershaw (14-5) earned the win after surrendering two runs on four hits and three walks while striking out five over 6.1 innings Friday against the Mets.

Kershaw gave up a solo home run in the first inning, but he would settle down for the remainder of the evening. He'd exit the contest with a 7-2 lead after firing 62 of 105 pitches for strikes. The 31-year-old southpaw was able to bounce back from three straight losses, and he now sports a 3.05 ERA and 1.05 WHIP with 176 punchouts over 165.1 innings this season.

Kershaw (13-5) was charged with the loss Friday against the Giants after lasting four innings and allowing three runs on seven hits and three walks while striking out six.

After escaping a first-inning bases-loaded jam by firing back-to-back strikeouts, Kershaw held the Giants scoreless until he gave up a solo home run to rookie Mauricio Dubon in the fourth. The southpaw returned in the fifth frame, allowing a single and a walk before getting pulled after his 99th pitch. Unfortunately, both his runners would score after he left the game. Kershaw has now surrendered nine home runs over his last four outings and has gone at least six innings in all but his last two starts. He now owns a 3.06 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 171:36 K:BB and will look to bounce back against the Mets.

Kershaw will take the mound in Friday's series opener against the Giants, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports.

Kershaw was originally slated to start Saturday on six days rest, but he'll instead have his outing pushed up one day. The veteran left-hander allowed more than four earned runs for the first time all season in his last start, and he'll look to get back on track at home against division-rival San Francisco.

Kershaw (13-4) took the loss Saturday, coughing up five runs on five hits and two walks over five innings while striking out six in a 6-5 loss to the Diamondbacks.

Wilmer Flores and Christian Walker both took the lefty deep in the fourth inning, while two of the other five hits Kershaw gave up were doubles. He's suddenly having trouble keeping the ball in the yard -- after serving up seven homers in 85 innings over his prior 13 starts, Kershaw's been tagged for eight long balls in 18 innings over his last three trips to the mound. He'll take a 2.96 ERA and 165:33 K:BB through 155 frames into his next outing Sept. 7, at home against the Giants.

Kershaw (13-3) suffered the loss against the Yankees on Sunday, hurling seven innings and giving up three runs on four hits and no walks while striking out 12.

Kershaw was mostly dominant in the nationally televised matchup, establishing a season high with 12 strikeouts while allowing only four hits. Unfortunately, three of those hits left the yard, sending the southpaw to his first home loss since April of 2018. Despite the disappointing outcome, Kershaw continued his late-season strikeout resurgence, as he has now whiffed 77 hitters over his last 57 innings after striking out 82 over his first 92 frames this season. The 31-year-old has been one of the most reliable starters in baseball in 2019, hurling six or more innings in each of his 23 appearances. He'll carry a 2.76 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 159:31 K:BB over 150 innings into his next start, on the road against Arizona on Saturday.

Kershaw (13-2) picked up the win against the Blue Jays on Tuesday, giving up three earned runs on six hits over six innings, striking out six and walking three in a 16-3 blowout victory for the Dodgers.

His offense stole the show, but Kershaw did in his part in tossing a quality start and picking up his 13th win of the season. It was his eighth quality start in a row, as the dominant lefty continues to log another impressive campaign, sporting a 2.71 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 147:31 K:BB across 143 innings.

Kershaw (12-2) gave up no runs on two hits and no walks while striking out 10 through seven innings to take the win over the Marlins on Wednesday.

Kershaw came out dealing, striking out eight of the first nine batters he faced and not allowing a baserunner until the fifth inning. In an amazing run of consistency, the left-hander has pitched at least six innings in all 21 of his starts. Kershaw has a 2.63 ERA and 141 strikeouts this season and will make his next start Tuesday against the Blue Jays at Dodger Stadium.