Dodgers News: MLB Ranks Clayton Kershaw as Top 5 Pitcher in League
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Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw is off to a dominant start this 2023 season. Despite not having his best stuff on Friday against the Padres — in his first start of May — Kershaw has still been electric this year, and is coming off an April that saw him win the National League Pitcher of the Month Award for the seventh time in his storied career
On Friday, before Kershaw's start against the Padres, the MLB released a "Pitcher Power Rankings," and ranked Kershaw as the No. 5 pitcher in the entire MLB. He was also ranked as the No. 2 pitcher in the National League, only trailing Arizona Diamondbacks RHP Zac Gallen. Still, he just beat Gallen out for the Pitcher of the Month Award in the NL in April.
While Kershaw did have a rough start on Friday against the Padres, I don't think it would change where he is in these rankings too much.
Kershaw is still 5-2 on the year with 2.53 ERA and 0.98 WHIP. He had his first real rough outing of the season on Friday, but it came against a tough Padres lineup, and in a game where San Diego and its fans really, really wanted to win.
Kershaw has still looked as good as ever to start the season, completely defying Father Time on his way to another award-worthy month. In a Dodgers rotation that has been very shaky to start the year, Kershaw has been the one consistent force.
Kershaw will get an opportunity to get back on track next Wednesday against the Milwaukee Brewers. The Brewers are enjoying a nice start to the 2023 campaign, but Kershaw has pitched well against them in his career, sporting a 3.09 ERA in 16 appearances. He has 108 strikeouts in those 99 innings.
I fully expect him to have a nice outing on Wednesday, and show people that Friday's dud was just a fluke in an otherwise All-Star caliber start to the 2023 season.
