Kershaw pitches 4 scoreless innings for Dodgers vs. D-backs

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — The Los Angeles Dodgers have so many stars this season that Clayton Kershaw is just one of the guys.

But there's little doubt the three-time NL Cy Young Award winner is still an extremely important piece to one of MLB's best teams.

Kershaw threw four scoreless innings against the Diamondbacks on Monday in the Cactus League, facing the minimum 12 batters. He gave up a leadoff single to Carson Kelly before coaxing a double play groundout and retiring 11 straight hitters.

“I think overall the fastball command was a lot better today,” Kershaw said. “If I can get ahead of hitters, it's a good thing. For the most part, another good step forward.”

Much has been made of the Dodgers' powerful lineup and rightfully so. They made one of the splashiest offseason moves by signing free agent first basemen Freddie Freeman, who joins a batting order that includes Justin Turner, Trea Turner, Mookie Betts, Cody Bellinger, Will Smith and Max Muncy.

But the Dodgers look slightly more vulnerable on the mound. They have three stars atop the rotation in Kershaw, Walker Buehler and Julio Urías but might have to use several different pitchers for the final few spots, including Andrew Heaney, David Price and Tony Gonsolin.

Kershaw signed a one-year, $17 million deal to stay with the franchise he’s played with his entire career. The eight-time All-Star might quite not be the pitcher he was from 2011 to 2014 when he won three NL Cy Young Awards in a four-year stretch, but he’s still been very effective over the past few years and figures to be an important part of the starting rotation.

The left-hander was 10-8 last season with a 3.55 ERA in 22 starts.

Buehler will be the Dodgers' opening day starter instead of Kershaw. But the left-hander said there are no hard...

source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/Kershaw-pitches-4-scoreless-innings-for-Dodgers-17034952.php