Has “Old Man Time” finally caught up to Los Angeles Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw? If Thursday's Opening Day performance against the Colorado Rockies was any indication: maybe.
After 5 2/3 innings, Clayton Kershaw had posted two strikeouts and one walk, but had given up 10 hits and six runs — five earned — on 77 pitches in Denver, for a whopping 7.94 game ERA.
That's more than seven times his career “Opening Day” ERA, per USA Today's baseball columnist Bob Nightengale, as Clayton Kershaw came into 2021 with the lowest Opening-Day ERA by any pitcher in MLB history at 1.05.
Clayton Kershaw entered today's opener with the lowest ERA (1.05) on Opening Day by any pitcher in history with at least 40 innings.
Today, the #Rockies have scored as many runs (6) in 5.2 IP off Kershaw as he gave up in his previous eight opening-day starts, spanning 51.2 IP.— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) April 1, 2021
Look, it's just one game. And Colorado has notoriously been able to hit just about anyone at Coors Field throughout its history.
But the 2020 MLB champions were probably looking for a better edge from Clayton Kershaw, their undisputed 33-year-old ace. Last year he lashed out for a 6-2 record, 62 strikeouts and a 2.16 ERA in 10 starts on the way to the NL Pennant.
The 2021 spring training season didn't go all that well for Clayton Kershaw either, as he went 0-2 for a 10.22 ERA in 12 innings. He had 14 strikeouts and just three walks, but also had a 1.94 WHIP and gave up three homers in four starts.
Is this just a bleed over from a tough spring stretch? Or is this a more indicative sign of what's to come? According to baseball-reference.com, Clayton Kershaw is projected to go 12-6 in 2021 with 160 strikeouts, 41 walks, a 3.29 ERA and a 1.10 WHIP.
At least his torrid “Opening Day” hitting continued on Thursday. He's batting .381 throughout his career when it comes to the first game of the year.
Clayton Kershaw is now hitting .381 in his career on #OpeningDay
No… seriously pic.twitter.com/KgDdN10h8g
— Blake Harris (@BlakeHHarris) April 1, 2021
The Dodgers face a challenge alongside Clayton Kershaw, namely the need to achieve a mental reset and clear the slate. Lots of people will say that the Dodgers' 2020 World Series — by occurring in a shortened pandemic season — wasn't the same as winning in a “normal” season with 162 games. Los Angeles needs to find fuel from that reality and attack this season with supreme hunger.
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