Kershaw STRUGGLES in the 8th: Nightmare for Dodgers in NLDS Series

Kershaw and the Dodgers’ Bullpen: A Night to Forget

In an unexpected turn of events, Dodgers’ star pitcher Clayton Kershaw was called to relieve in the eighth inning of the third game of the National League Division Series. Manager Dave Roberts’ decision, motivated by the absence of Tanner Scott and the previous use of other left-handed relievers, marked the beginning of a fateful episode for the team. Kershaw, who has announced his retirement at the end of the season, was looking to keep the score in favor of his team. However, the entry to the field turned into a nightmare. J.T. Realmuto hit a home run, followed by six batters who got on base, allowing the Phillies to score five runs and head towards an 8-2 victory that saved their season.

“I simply didn’t make enough good pitches,” Kershaw lamented, whose team still led the series 2-1.

Clayton Kershaw

The atmosphere in the stadium ignited when Kershaw entered the field, but the fans’ joy quickly turned to disappointment. The pitcher, who had managed to get the last out in the seventh inning, couldn’t maintain control and suffered a tough defeat. Kershaw admitted that he struggled with control and couldn’t throw enough strikes. The situation was further complicated when the team couldn’t count on its most reliable relievers. The decision to use Kershaw in this situation highlighted the deficiencies of the Dodgers’ bullpen. The team’s relievers finished the regular season ranked 21st in MLB in ERA, and they didn’t generate much confidence during the final stretch of the season. The team’s strategy of compensating for the bullpen’s weaknesses with the depth of its starting rotation proved to have its limits in this crucial encounter. The absence of Tanner Scott, the restriction on the use of Emmet Sheehan and Roki Sasaki, and the designation of Tyler Glasnow as the starter for the fourth game limited the manager’s options. This left Blake Treinen and Alex Vesia as the only available options, but Roberts preferred to save them for situations with a greater advantage, forcing Kershaw to take on a larger load than he should have. Kershaw, who faced nine batters in the eighth inning, struggled with the control of his pitches and most of the batters got ahead in the count.

The pitcher admitted that he did everything he could to prepare, including throwing from the flat field before getting on the mound, but it wasn’t enough. The night ended with a defeat that will be etched in the fans’ memories.