Dodgers News: Clayton Kershaw To Get Another Few Days Between Starts, Expected to Face Giants in LA

While Clayton Kershaw pitched satisfactorily for four innings against the Seattle Mariners on Saturday, the Dodgers think Kershaw’s next start will be against the San Francisco Giants this upcoming weekend. 

Dave Roberts gave the media some of his thinking.

“We’ll see when he goes next, but I think it’ll be next weekend against the Giants,” Roberts said.

Kershaw might have wanted to go longer than four innings Saturday, but the Dodgers wanted to make sure they protected Kershaw’s valuable left shoulder. 

"That first inning," Roberts added in regards to Kershaw's outing, "getting loose or whatever it was -- getting his rhythm... he found a way to get out of it. But I thought those last two were more Clayton-esque as far as command, the depth of the slider. We could have pushed him another inning but I felt good banking the four innings."

The left-hander has battled command issues and diminished velocity in recent outings stemming from a shoulder injury that has sapped strength in his Hall of Fame left arm.

Kershaw can live and win with the decrease in velocity, particularly with his new changeup. His slider must have depth, which it had on Saturday. His curveball had a rainbow shape, making it unhittable. As long as Kershaw can put his pitches where he wants them, he will be fine in the postseason.

After 16 years in the major leagues, Kershaw knows how to be effective as a crafty lefty. If he is pain-free, he will learn how to pitch and get outs with an 88 mph fastball. The Dodgers must make sure he is pain-free going into the postseason. 

The Dodgers will welcome the Giants to Dodger Stadium next weekend for the final homestand of the regular season. Kershaw can get the baseball on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday and still have time to make one more tune up start before the playoffs.