Clayton Kershaw’s Disastrous Start in the NLDS

Clayton Kershaw’s start in Game 1 of the National League Division Series against the Arizona Diamondbacks was nothing short of disastrous. In less than one inning, Kershaw gave up six runs and recorded only one out. The fans at Dodger Stadium were still settling into their seats when Kershaw exited with a 6-0 deficit. It was a shocking turn of events for a pitcher who had been expected to be effective despite his shoulder injury.

The nightmare inning began with a double by Ketel Marte that should have been ruled an error. The ball hit by Marte went in and out of the glove of rookie center fielder James Outman. Following the double, Corbin Carroll and Tommy Pham hit back-to-back singles, and Christian Walker added a double. To add insult to injury, Gabriel Moreno, the D-backs catcher who had been hit in the head just days before, crushed a three-run homer that traveled 419 feet. The crowd, still filling the stadium, was left in stunned silence by the turn of events.

Kershaw’s performance was one for the record books, but not in a good way. It marked the first time in his long and successful career that he allowed five consecutive hits to open a game. Furthermore, it was the first time he failed to complete an inning. In postseason history, only three other starters have allowed six or more runs while recording one out or fewer: Dakota Hudson, Mike Foltynewicz, and Gil Heredia.

Leading into the playoffs, Kershaw had been battling a tender shoulder. Despite the injury, he had managed to pitch through it and maintain a respectable 2.23 ERA in his last eight regular-season starts. Kershaw adjusted his game, relying on a slower fastball and benefiting from additional rest between starts. While he may not have been at his best, he was still effective, often pitching five innings per start.

Unfortunately, the challenges that Kershaw had managed to overcome during the regular season caught up with him in the most crucial time – the postseason. His tender shoulder, combined with the pressure of playoff baseball, proved to be too much to handle. Kershaw’s disastrous start in the NLDS was not the performance the Los Angeles Dodgers had hoped for. It was a disappointing end to what had been a remarkable regular season for the veteran pitcher.

Clayton Kershaw’s start in Game 1 of the NLDS was a complete disaster. From the very beginning, it was clear that he was not himself. The Arizona Diamondbacks took full advantage of Kershaw’s struggles and quickly built up a substantial lead. This performance will surely be one that Kershaw and Dodgers fans alike will want to forget. It serves as a stark reminder that even the best players can falter under pressure.