Dodgers: Clayton Kershaw Will Not Pitch in the Opening Series
The day is finally here. After a very long offseason, your Los Angeles Dodgers will play a meaningful baseball game. Walker Buehler will get the ball for his first Opening Day start and will be taking on Colorado’s Kyle Freeland.
Up until now, Dave Roberts and the Dodgers have been unwilling to announce who would be going after Walker. The assumption was that it would be some combination of Clayton Kershaw and Julio Urias over the weekend. But the team announced today that they will be going in a different direction.
Tony Gonsolin gets the start for the Dodgers on Saturday and Julio Urias will go on Sunday. So their Opening weekend rotation is officially set, and it does not include Clayton Kershaw. There are a few different explanations for that.
Dodgers rotation is set for the Opening Weekend series vs. the Rockies in Colorado.
Friday 1:10 pm: Walker Buehler
Saturday 5:10 pm: Tony Gonsolin
Sunday 12:10 pm: Julio Urías— Dodgers Nation (@DodgersNation) April 8, 2022
The Dodgers could be slowplaying his progress as he rolls into the season. To put it simply, they might be playing it safe with Kershaw who is coming off of an arm injury last season. That would explain giving him a few extra days of rest before he gets a start in Minnesota.
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Alternatively, they might not like the matchup with the Rockies for Kersh. In 24 career starts at Coors Field, Kershaw has allowed a 4.57 ERA and complied an 11-6 record. The Dodgers could just be playing the odds there and try to give themselves the best chance to get the season started on the right foot.
But regardless, we have our first weekend rotation! Let the season begin.
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As I stated, in a post that did not get approved (I guess) and was not posted, I think Kershaw should be held out until the Dodger Stadium opener.
His innings, more than the other starters, should be extra-limited for the 1st half of the season. This will pay off in a strong 2nd half and playoff run, in my opinion. If his IP exceed 150, I think we are asking too much of him at this stage in his career.
Give him the best chance of making this season a great one, for him and the team.