Dodgers left-handed pitcher Clayton Kershaw recently returned from a stint on the 60-day disabled list due to left forearm tightness. In that time since he last pitched, which was all the way back on July 3rd, the Dodgers had made numerous moves at the trade deadline to make the team better.
They made a massive splash when they acquired Max Scherzer and Trea Turner from the Nationals, basically showing off to the rest of the league how rich they were as if it was a boasting contest. Walker Buehler and Julio Urías are having career seasons with LA, which further begs the question of just where Kershaw will fit in this rotation.
All of those reasons and more for the last two and a half months have the Dodgers winning at a rapid pace, even with Kershaw missing several months. As well as the Dodgers have played in Kershaw’s absence, LA is a better team when the future Hall of Famer is healthy and raring to go with his usual dominant stuff. With him, the Dodgers rotation will be deadly, even without Trevor Bauer and his numerous troubles.
Kershaw returning undoubtably boosts the Dodgers’ chances to win back-to-back World Series. He gives the Dodgers another proven starter in that rotation that includes Scherzer, Buehler and Urías. Those four would give the Dodgers a chance against any team in a playoff series.
My assumption is that Scherzer will get the start in Game 1 and lead off the rotation, and that is for obvious reasons. He's currently the NL Cy Young Favorite at -210 odds at DraftKings Sportsbook. After that, it's really anybody's guess, but I believe Kershaw gets the start in the second game of the series.
As a veteran and someone who has been there before, Kershaw has earned his spot right behind Scherzer in the playoff rotation. As long as he keeps performing well after his injury that is. Buehler and Urias both deserve to be at the top of any rotation, and that is just how good the Dodgers actually are.
Buehler will likely be the third starter, as he is also in Cy Young consideration in the NL and has been lights out reliable for the Dodgers all season long. Urias has pitched well, and will most likely be the fourth starter. He is 18-3 with a 3.10 ERA as the fourth starter.
Good Luck, National League.
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