LOS ANGELES In the third inning, the first four batters reached base. Each one struck hard on a knock and each one on a ball. Matt Chapman’s single, which reached 109 mph, was the last of those.
His next three pitches were out of the zone, so the veteran Dodgers ace squinted his eyes and wiped his left thigh with his pants.
This was the beginning of Clayton Kershaw’s much awaited 17th season in a Los Angeles uniform. The bar is still set very high. For his team’s hopes of winning the World Series, his performance is still crucial.
And this first start in his home ballpark on Thursday afternoon was dangerously close to blowing up.
“He’s pitched with so much stress, in those situations, so many times throughout his career,” manager Dave Roberts said. “There’s some part of it, where you just default to having already been there. It’s not about your first start back. It’s not about how you feel. It’s about getting an out.”
Kershaw did what he would done countless times before just on cue. He became locked in. That 3-0 count started an at-bat that resulted in a strikeout. Kershaw then ended the inning by striking out the next two batters. An inning later, the Dodgers rallied to tie the game and defeat San Francisco 6-4.
Teammates, Shohei and Clayton. pic.twitter.com/b3FNj5SnEw
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) July 25, 2024
After pitching four innings, the 36-year-old southpaw gave up two runs. He gave up six hits, walked two, and struck out six. With the exception of a four-batter glitch in the third, he was otherwise dominant, whiffing on 14 of 36 swings, including 25% of the 32 sliders he threw.
“It meant a lot. To get back out there in Dodger Stadium is something that I’ve thought about for a long time,” Kershaw said. “This was really cool, that a lot of people cared so much to help me.
“To go back out and pitch in Dodger Stadium — and not that I did before — but I’m not going to take it for granted.”
When Kershaw threw a major-league mound previously, it was in a terrible six-run playoff loss against the Diamondbacks, and he left after getting just one out.
Whether or not that would be the end for the longtime great was a valid question. With a surgically repaired shoulder ailment, he was pitching. Since 2016, he had appeared on the injured list at some point during each season. Maybe his time on the mound was over as his contract was about to expire.
But the sold-out ballpark gave him a continuous roar as he warmed up to make his first pitch against the Giants. Supporters expressed gratitude to Kershaw for his decision to stay in the game. I am glad he returned to Los Angeles rather than playing for his local Rangers. gratitude for all that he has done for the team over the past almost 20 years.
“Coming back is obviously something that I wanted to do,” Kershaw said. “But it’s kind of like, they spent all this time helping me get back, so they want to see me get back too. So all the work isn’t for nothing.”
In a strange twist of events, Nick Ahmed ended up being the hero in Kershaw. Ahmed, who was released by the Giants two weeks prior, broke a 4–4 tie in the eighth inning with the game-winning home drive. It was only the light-hitting shortstop’s second bomb of the season. Less than a day has passed since he joined Los Angeles.
It made Kershaw happy to talk about how his wife and kids could watch him pitch at the park following the game. It made for a satisfying way to cap off an important day.
“I’ve had a lot of at-bats off of him, facing him for a lot of years,” said Ahmed, who spent 10 seasons with the Diamondbacks. “I’m glad I don’t have to face that slider anymore. Just watching him compete over the years. To play behind him is an honor.”
Roberts stated that he usually looks at Kershaw’s arm and hand speeds. His fastball hovers between 90 and 91 mph, his curveball lands, his slider is effective, and those are sharp. He is observed instances where Kershaw’s arm appears listless, and at that point, his pitches start to get hittable.
In addition, Kershaw threw six changeups, which is a significant improvement from the 33 he threw in 2022 and the 11 he tossed last year. Kershaw expressed dissatisfaction with his command of the fastball. But according to all accounts, throughout his 72-pitch outing, he was spot-on with the changeup and everything else he threw.
“I thought it was the same Kersh that I’ve always seen,” said Austin Barnes, the Dodgers backup who has long been Kershaw’s primary catcher. “Just his ability to move pitches around and keep hitters off balance. I thought today’s stuff was really good.”
With the addition of Tyler Glasnow, James Paxton, and Yoshinobu Yamamoto throughout the winter, the Dodgers strengthened their rotation. They expected Walker Buehler to make a big comeback and for young Bobby Miller to develop.
But Yamamoto is on the 60-day IL. Buehler is hurt. Miller has been optioned. Paxton was DFA’d just this week.
The Dodgers would have benefited greatly from Kershaw returning to health and form at the beginning of the season. Retaining him healthy and performing seems more important now that Los Angeles’ starting pitching is in doubt. Roberts stated before the game that he was certain Kershaw would be prepared for a postseason push after this start.
That was the underlying theme of all Thursday’s events. the tacit realization of how crucial this beginning was. Today was about celebrating Kershaw’s comeback and realizing how fortunate we are to have such a legendary player back.
“To be doing what you’re meant to be doing,” Kershaw said, “is a good thing.”
(Photo of Clayton Kershaw: Jayne Kamin-Oncea / Getty Images)
