GLENDALE, Arizona — Dodgers manager Dave Roberts joked it was a tough call, but Clayton Kershaw will be the opening day pitcher for Los Angeles for the sixth year in a row.
The three-time Cy Young Award winner will help the Dodgers open the season on April 4 opener against the San Diego Padres.
"That was a tough one," Roberts kidded Sunday. "That was one of the harder managerial decisions I've had to make. After a lot of review and thoughts, we came to that conclusion."
Kershaw was 16-7 last season with a 2.13 earned run average and 301 strikeouts — the first pitcher to reach 300 strikeouts since 2002.