Kershaw, Dodgers Handle Cardinals in Weekend Finale

Published on by Dennis Schlossman

Veteran Clayton Kershaw threw six shutout innings and Shohei Ohtani smashed his 39th homer of the year to lead the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 2-1 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals and secure the series win, two games to one.

With the victory, the Dodgers’ current divisional lead sits at three full games over the San Diego Padres and four full games over the Arizona Diamondbacks. Both the Padres and Diamondbacks lost on Sunday.

Kershaw was efficient on the afternoon, throwing just 70 pitches and surrendering four hits and a walk while striking out two batters. Skipper Dave Roberts opted for Evan Phillips to start the seventh and came back with Daniel Hudson in the eighth, who surrendered a solo homer to pinch-hitter Lars Nootbar to make the game interesting.

Righty Michael Kopech was perfect in the ninth , posting his second save as a Dodger and his 11th on the year. Since arriving in Los Angeles, Kopech has not allowed an earned run in just over nine innings of work.

The good news for the Dodgers is that Kershaw continues to prove himself worthy as a starting option should the Dodgers clinch a spot in the playoffs. This could play big in light of Tyler Glasnow’s recent bout with elbow tendinitis and the lengthy recovery of Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Although Yamamoto faced live hitters this week, Roberts told reporters on Friday that his righty could conceivably participate in at least two more live sessions before going out on a rehab assignment.

After Ohtani’s one-out solo shot to right-center field in the fifth, Mookie Betts walked and later advanced to third on Gavin Lux’s single to right. Betts later scored on a Miguel Rojas single to wrap up the Los Angeles scoring.

Both Lux and Rojas had three hits for the Dodgers, with Lux adding two doubles and raising his season average above .250 for the first time since the early stages of the season.

The Dodgers won the game despite being without the services of Freddie Freeman. The first baseman jammed his right middle finger while trying to make a play in the field during the sixth inning of Saturday’s middle game. Freeman is scheduled to undergo a medical imaging procedure upon returning to Los Angeles.

Before Sunday’s game, Max Muncy was seen taking grounders at first base, indicating that he could be a potential fill-in for Freeman if needed. Both Muncy and the newly acquired Tommy Edman are expected to be activated ahead of the Seattle Mariners series beginning on Monday.

Lining up to start for the Dodgers are Gavin Stone, Walker Buehler and Jack Flaherty, respectively.

23 thoughts on “Kershaw, Dodgers Handle Cardinals in Weekend Finale”

  1. Really happy for CK and the progress he’s made in coming back from what was pretty serious surgery, and at the latter stage of his career. So far, he’s beaten the odds. The way things are going, he may yet wind up as the starter in game 1 of a playoff series.

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  2. Kershaw has proven again to be able to will himself to compete. Buehler and Miller have been disappointing. It’s interesting that the vaunted Dodger farm system doesn’t have another pitcher that can throw strikes and just be average. Why don’t they start Knack? Is Stone on a limit so Stone/Knack is the new starter? Wrobleski didn’t look as out of control as Buehler. Or Miller. I hope Buehler gets it together but hope they only give him another start or two. To show definite progress. Miller looks lost.

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  3. Miller has always been lost. Top prospect couldn’t get out of double A for 2 years because he was getting bombed, then they tried triple A and he got bombed, then for some reason they called him up to the big club (probably embarasment), and darn he looked pretty good last year. But it was all a mirage. I said 3 years ago I think he is a headcase and I stand by that. Everyone always talked about his “stuff”, so there is no other excuse. Of course a little command wouldn’t hurt him.

    and Kershaw is amazing. Every year I want to write him off because of age, injuries etc and he always surprises. He almost seems to be getting better. More head less arm.

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    1. Interesting comparison, Gordon, and maybe something that MLB front offices should pay attention to.

      They seem to look mostly for velo when they draft these days. Maybe they should be looking for more pitching ability and less throwing ability.

      Don’t look now, but CK may just be our #1 starter at this point.

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      1. it’s always been about Comand.their are few ryans or johnsons who can overpower for a career. Actually koufax was a bust until he found the strike zone.

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      4. I have a Zoom meeting set up with Ned Colletti and Dave Hobrecht on Friday to talk about the All-Time Dodgers Art Book they released late last year. No kidding. If there are any questions you guys would like me to ask Ned, just let me know. Seriously.

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      5. Who was his favorite Dodger during his time as GM, and why?

        And as an aside, you can tell him that this is one fan who really misses him on the Dodger pre and post game shows. I thought he really added a lot.

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  4. Why on earth would we DFA Honeywell? He’s been nothing but damn good for us this year. Plus he throws a screwball and that’s always fun to see! Not sure I agree with this one.

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  5. Looks like we won’t be getting Sasaki from Japan next year too. Looks like he’s going to stay until he turns 25 which is just a year. This may change the conversations they were having about whether to let Ohtani pitch anymore or just have him play OF/DH and hit. No way we pay Flagherty what he will get on the open market so we will have to fill his spot too. Sasaki would have been that guy but now Max Fried would be my top target. There are rumors he wants to come back home to California and he was a Dodgers fan growing up. The Braves have offered him a couple sizable extensions in $150 million range and he hasn’t engaged with them. That tells me he’s looking for a move.

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      1. I think Friedman will lay one pitcher, who that’s going to be is the real question. With Yamamoto and Glasnow as well as Ohtani I would think he’d be more inclined to go for a lefty. Of course if Kershaw wants one last year you give it to him because he’s proven he can still get people out and be an asset to a rotation. His hard slider makes his 91 mph fastball seem like it’s 95. If his shoulder and back are healthy he has plenty in the tank for one more year. The 5th starter spot to me is Gavin Stone’s until someone proves they can take it from him or he falls off a cliff. Lastly, I’ve got to eat some crow. I was wrong about Gavin Lux and I’m proud to say I was wrong because his bat isn’t just hot, it’s legit. He’s also played a pretty good defensive 2nd base.

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  6. Wow Stone is dealing in the 7th inning he has a 2 hit shutout with 10 strikeouts! Next year May and Gonsolin should be back. Ohtani also. So Glasnow, Yamamoto, Stone, Knack, May, Gonsolin and Ohtani are under contract. Along with young pitchers attempting to be promoted. Does Kershaw want a full year in 2025? Maybe.. He seems to have the fire and his shoulder is healed. Do they sign Flaherty? With so many injuries how many starters are enough? I believe if possible they should go to a 6 man rotation.

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    1. ,No way they pay Flaherty. I’m actually starting to think they don’t sign a starter. I thought Max Fried would be the choice as he’s a hometown guy that reportedly wants to play back out west but then you remember that AF doesn’t like paying starters 30 and older. Both guys are either 30 or almost there. I think they go for Sasaki in 2026, let Ohtani pitch 120-150 innings next year and Kershaw comes back for one last year. Stone is the #5 and you have one of Gonsulin, Knack, Wrobleski, etc fill in for Ohtani to keep his workload down. If we spend big money it will be CF/LF. I would try to get Teoscar Hernandez back. He’s aging very well and he’s a solid all around player that you can stick in LF and not worry about him. It’s all about price though. If he agrees to 3 years $70 million you do that deal and let Outman and Pages battle for the CF spot.

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      1. Flaherty is another home town guy who might want to continue playing out west. As a matter of fact he and Fried attended the same high school, as did Giolito.

        I would tend to agree with you though, that they might not sign a pitcher this off season. Look at the potential list they have in house to choose from for 2025:

        Glasnow, Yamamoto, Ohtani, Stone, Miller, Kershaw (maybe), Gonsolin, May, Wrobleski, Sasaki (maybe), Knack.

        That’s 11 guys right there, even assuming Buehler and Flaherty don’t return.

        Liked by 1 person

  7. One of my favorite pitchers is Gonsolin he always gets forgotten but when he was healthy he was an all star. Plus he played hurt to help the team. If recovered in 25 I think he deserves a shot at a rotation spot as does May. We all have seen the injuries the last couple of years but looking at availability in 25 a rotation guy isn’t a priority.

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    1. I would agree. Another starter should not be their first priority and they probably don’t need to go after one at all.

      After the season, the first conversation needs to be where they intend to play Mookie. If at shortstop, they don’t need to go get a shortstop. If in right field, they probably do since Rojas will be a year older and I don’t think they plan to make Edman the everyday guy there.

      Maybe the next couple of months will help them decide exactly what role they want for Edman. Centerfielder, shortstop or utility. That will also help determine what their other needs will be in free agency or trades.

      Kiermaier is playing well enough and seems to be enjoying himself enough that they might convince him to come back for one more year instead of retiring.

      At some point next year, Rushing will probably be promoted or might even start the year in L.A. That will fill another roster spot and might also determine Barnes’ future.

      Lots of decisions to make but they may ultimately need to relatively few changes.

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      1. I know we are stuck with him but not a Taylor fan. Barnes has had a good year but as u stated they probably need to promote Rushing or trade him. Rushing and a young blocked pitcher probably brings a very good position player. Barnes is such a good coach for pitchers he is the type of background guy you keep. Like Hayward oh wait a minute…

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      3. CT3 seems to come up big just about the time we think our 5 year old grandson would be a better option. I’m sure Andrew regrets the contract he gave Taylor but that’s water under the bridge and he has certainly had his moments in Dodger Blue. I think before his time as a Dodger is over, he’ll have a few more.

        That said, with the roster crunch we have, he almost certainly would have been let go if not for the money he’s owed. We’ll see how it plays out between now and the end of October and for sure Edman, Kike and CT3 will not all be on the roster come 2025. Edman will be here, but one or both of Kike and CT3 will not be.

        Just a guess, but I’m thinking he’ll probably be in the starting lineup today. We’ll have a chance to see how his re-worked (for the umpteenth time) swing is doing. I’m rooting for him, even though I may be the only Dodger fan who is.

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