Kershaw Returns

Dodgers Lineup @ Washington-5-6-14

Gordon 2B

Crawford LF

Hanley SS

Kemp CF

Ethier RF

Uribe 3B

Van Slyke 1B

Butera C

Kershaw P

Clayton Kershaw-1-0 vs. Blake Treinen-0-0

#Dodgers today reinstated @ClaytonKersh22 from 15-day disabled list and optioned Pedro Baez to @ChattLookouts.
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) May 6, 2014

If there ever was a time the Dodgers needed their ace, tonight is that time. Clayton Kershaw is back, and he couldn’t have returned at a better time. The Dodgers dropped the series opener Monday night to the Nationals, getting shut out 4-0. The original plan was for Zack Greinke to start Monday on regular rest. So the Dodgers pushed Kershaw back to Tuesday’s game two for that reason. But mother nature had a different idea for the Dodgers. Best laid plans I guess. This has been a rough road trip.

Our shining light is back!-Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports

Greinke only threw three innings, allowing two earned runs, (on a home run from Anthony Rendon), and only threw 54 pitches because of the rain delay. The Dodgers now have to decide when the next time they’ll use Greinke. He could come back to pitch earlier than expected, since he only made 54 pitches. It’s more than likely he’ll just slot back into his normal day. That’s if the Dodgers don’t have any more rainouts before they come home.

Yesterday the Dodgers optioned Stephen Fife back to Albuquerque and called up right hander Pedro Baez. The rookie flamethrower made his MLB debut last night, pitching an inning and allowing two earned runs. I would expect the Dodgers to probably option him right back to Chattanooga tonight to make room for Kershaw. It was nice to have a look at the young prospect. He has a strong fastball, and could be a helpful arm for the bullpen in the future. The bullpen could use all the help they can get.

So tonight the Dodgers finally get their ace back, as Kershaw takes the mound for the first time since March 22nd, when he pitched the club’s opening game in Australia. The Dodgers won that game 3-1, with Kershaw allowing just a single run in 6.2 innings, to pick up the win. Kershaw has been on the disabled list since March 30th, with a strained teres major muscle in his back.

The Dodgers need Kershaw to go deep into the game tonight more than anything. Especially after Monday night’s rain soaked debacle, that saw them forced to empty out their already taxed and overworked bullpen. The bullpen desperately needs a night off, and fortunately for the Dodgers, they have just the guy on the mound that can give them that break.

Kershaw is 5-2 with a 3.18 ERA in nine games against Washington. He’s whiffed 57 and walked 15 in 51 innings pitched. He was 2-0 with a 1.15 ERA against the Nats last year. At Washington he’s made just three starts and pitched in four games at National’s Park. He’s 1-1 with a 4.67 ERA in Washington, with 21 whiffs in 17 frames.

Kershaw has dominated the Nationals. The current group for Washington is hitting just .211 (24 for 114) against Kershaw with three home runs, and .266 OBP. Nobody has done much of anything off of Kershaw, except for one guy. For some reason Scott Hairston, the brother of Jhair, is batting .364 (8 for 22) off of Kershaw. Jayson Werthless, and Adam LaRoche have hit home runs.

RBI

OBP

SLG

Jayson Werth

.250

.333

.500

Scott Hairston

.364

.409

Adam LaRoche

.211

.286

.421

Ian Desmond

.176

.222

.294

Nate McLouth

.000

.125

.000

Danny Espinosa

.143

.286

Kevin Frandsen

.000

.167

.000

Jose Lobaton

.000

.333

.000

Tyler Moore

.000

Anthony Rendon

.000

Craig Stammen

.667

1.000

Ross Detwiler

.000

Denard Span

.000

Total

124

114

.211

.266

.342

Washington will counter with rookie Blake Treinen. The Nationals had to send reliever Ryan Matheus to triple-A to make room for Treinen. Who is Blake Treinen? Well he’s a 25-year old right hander who had a good spring with the Nationals this year. He’s originally from Wichita Kansas, and was drafted by the A’s in the seventh round of the 2011 draft.

Washington Nationals pitcher Blake Treinen (64) throws against the St. Louis Cardinals during the sixth inning. Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

Treinen will be making his first MLB start, and has only pitched in three games at the big league level. He’s allowed one earned run on 11 hits in 6.2 innings. He’s also whiffed seven and walked two. In four games at Syracuse this year, he’s allowed four earned runs, and whiffed nine in 11 innings.

Treinen was the guy the Nationals traded Mike Morse for. According to the scouting reports, Treinen throws hard. He has a fastball that can hit as high as 97. He also has a slider, and curve.

The two non-Kershaw stories we’ll be watching today are, whether Yasiel Puig will be in the lineup after being banged up from his leaping attempt to catch Jeff Baker’s game winning double on Sunday afternoon against the Marlins. The other will be who the Dodgers will send down to make room for Kershaw. My guess is it’s Baez, but we’ll have to wait and see.

Remember, the Nationals have the third best bullpen ERA in all of Baseball (1.89). In comparison the Dodger bullpen is ranked 15, with a 3.79 ERA. The Dodger bullpen is second in the majors in walks (61). That’s another huge reason, (besides being overworked), why they are struggling. All those walks are going to kill you. In comparison, Washington’s bullpen has given up 42, walks, and the Giant’s bullpen has walked 29. Big difference.

The Dodgers are 18-15, and are now three games back of the Giants in third place. It’s really early, but this isn’t good. The Dodgers need a win.

Thank god our shining light is back. Kershaw is our golden light, and getting him back should be a big boost to the boy’s morale. It’s a huge boost to our morale too. Enjoy the game guys. Come back afterwards for a full recap.

Welcome back Clayton. Please don’t ever leave us again.

Game time -4:05 PM

Go Blue!

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