Clayton Kershaw Pitches Seven Shutout Innings in Return

The Los Angeles Dodgers had high expectations going into the 2014 season, but had an early setback when two time Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw went on the disabled list with a strained back muscle after winning the season opener in Australia back on May 22nd. After some R and R plus a couple of minor league rehab starts Kershaw returned to the Dodgers and made his second start of the season on May6th.

It was like he never left. Kershaw pitched seven innings of shutout ball, striking out nine Washington Nationals en route to an 8-3 Dodger victory.

The Dodgers weren’t doing badly before Kershaw returned– with the victory, L.A. improved to 19-15, 2 ½ games behind N.L. West leader San Francisco—- but this is a big boost for them.  It could help Kershaw out too over the long run. Last year, he looked like he was running out of gas during the National League Championship Series against the Cardinals (0-2, 6.30 ERA). Six weeks of not pitching might mean he’ll be stronger should the Dodgers go deep into the post season.