Dodger's 'Autumn Jinx' Kershaw Bowed his Head Again, "I'm Disappointing Everyone"

NLDS Game 1, ⅓ innings, 6 hits (1 home run), 1 walk, 6 runs allowed.

Dodgers manager Roberts says, “If Game 4 is held, Kershaw will be the starting pitcher.”

⅓ innings, 6 hits (1 home run), 6 runs allowed, ERA 162.00.

This is an embarrassing report card for Clayton Kershaw (Los Angeles Dodgers), who becomes especially weak in the fall, in his first appearance in the 2023 postseason.

Kershaw took the mound as a starting pitcher in Game 1 of the National League Division Series (NLDS, 3 wins out of 5) against the Arizona Diamondbacks held at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California, USA on the 8th (Korean time) and pitched with only one out in the first inning. After validating, I went down the mound. https://www.casinositeking.com

Kershaw, who was hit with a double by leadoff hitter Ketel Marte in the first inning, gave up singles to second hitter Corbin Carroll and third hitter Tommy Pham.

A double was allowed to 4th hitter Christian Walker, bringing the score to 2-0, and the crisis continued with no outs on 2nd and 3rd bases, and a 3-run home run to 5th hitter Gabriel Moreno allowed the 5th run.

According to MLB.com, this is the first case in the postseason where a starting pitcher gave up 5 runs without registering a single out.

After getting his first out by hitting Lourdes Gurriel Jr. with a grounder, Kershaw walked Alec Thomas and hit an RBI double from Evan Longoria before leaving the mound.

Regarding Kershaw, whose shoulder was in poor condition at the end of the season, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts expected him to be in "the best condition in months" ahead of the game.

However, MLB.com said, “It was clear that he was not in peak physical condition.

The slider was less curved and the curve was flat.

“His four-seam fastball, which had reduced velocity due to a shoulder injury, was unable to overcome the batter,” he pointed out.

Among Kershaw’s 35 pitches on this day, only five were swing-misses.

There were 7 hard hits (exit speed over 95 mph).

Kershaw is a ‘living legend’ who has reserved entry into the MLB Hall of Fame.

He won the Cy Young Award three times, and in 2014, he won the National League Most Valuable Player (MVP) despite being a pitcher.

As he enters his mid-30s, his performance is not as good as before due to major and minor injuries, but this year's regular season was also 13 wins, 5 losses, and an average ERA of 2.46, helping the Dodgers win the district championship. https://castbox.fm/channel/id5683617

However, this year, Kershaw was unable to overcome the 'fall jinx' and suffered his 13th loss (13 wins) in fall baseball as the team lost 2-11.

With one game on this day, Kershaw's postseason ERA soared from 4.22 to 4.49.

After the game, Coach Roberts reaffirmed his trust by saying, "Usually Kershaw has excellent control and crisis management skills, but he did not do so today," and added, "If Game 4 of the NLDS is held, Kershaw will appear as the starting pitcher."

Kershaw blamed himself for "disappointing everyone.

I was hoping I would pitch well in Game 1, but something embarrassing happened.

We had a rough start to the postseason."

Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman also expressed his bewilderment, saying, “No one in the baseball world would have expected this result.”