Dodgers Team News

Dodgers World Series: LA Announces Clayton Kershaw as the Game 1 Starter

For the 3rd time in 4 years, the Dodgers are headed back to the World Series. After an epic comeback down 3 games to 1, Los Angeles took down the Braves in the NLCS on Sunday to advance.

The Dodgers will face off against the Tampa Bay Rays, a team loaded with pitching. The Rays are expected to throw out Tyler Glasnow in Game 1, and Los Angeles will counter with Clayton Kershaw. Kersh will be pitching on normal rest after throwing on Thursday against Atlanta. 



This will be the third time in his career that Clayton Kershaw has started Game 1 of the World Series. In 2017 against the Astros, he tossed 7 innings of 1-run ball and struck out 11 Houston hitters in the process. The next year against the Red Sox didn’t go nearly as well, as he allowed 5 earned runs in 4 innings as the Dodgers fell 8-4.

This will also be Kershaw’s 4th appearance of the postseason. Through 2 starts, he has allowed 7 earned runs through 19 innings pitched. He has also struck out 23 batters compared to just 2 walks in those 3 starts. The nod to Kershaw for Game 1 can likely be attributed to the fact that there are not any other Dodgers pitchers that would be pitching on normal rest on Tuesday. 

Walker Buehler threw 6 innings on Saturday, while Dustin May, Tony Gonsolin, and Julio Urias all pitched for the Dodgers on Sunday. 

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7 Comments

  1. I believe in the man. No right-minded fan would think this is a guaranteed shutout from Kershaw, but I think he still has it in him. Not to mention the Dodgers have been in the same ballpark for 10 games now, I would be surprised to see the Rays showing up and hitting the long ball.

    1. That’s just it. CK MUST keep the Ray’s hitters in the yard, espcially because the offense will be challenged somewhat against the Ray’s pitching, which is in fact better than what was seen against the Braves. And recall that so far. The Rays have hit 25 HRs this post season.

  2. Does anyone remember the Dodger fan who captured Manny Machado on video in the on deck circle at Dodger stadium after he became a Padre? The fan was heckling Machado about leaving the Dodgers to sign with the Padres. We (Dodger fans) don’t care about Machado any longer, but that fan WAS offered a bet by Machado himself. Machado told the fan, on camera, “I’ll bet my salary that we win the world series before you guys do”…….So, if the Dodgers actually win this thing, will social media call Machado out to make good on his boast????????? (Just a funny but it there could be noise about it)

  3. Don’t get me wrong, I love CK, but they need to keep an eye on him. Especially when he starts going through the batting order for the third time, the hitters seem to have him figured out. We need to click on all cylinders for this series. Can’t leave that many men on base in scoring position. Everyone need to step up to the plate for this one. GO BLUE!!

  4. Kersh rarely walks hitters………the last few games our pitching has been giving up free passes by the boat load…….Kershaw has been having trouble giving up the long ball the last couple of years……but they are usually solos…….so if he can keep them in the park somehow…… and that’s a big if………we should be fine tonite.

  5. My guess is Kershaw will only go through the Rays lineup twice Unless he is pitching lights out. He’ll have a very short leash after 5 innings.

  6. I didn’t realize they are going to have the normal days off during the WS. That should give Kershaw games 1 and 5 and Buehler 3 and 7. Factor in another big effort by Urias and we are looking pretty good. Treinen is the only reliever who has been busy.

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