One of the characteristics that has made Clayton Kershaw arguably the top pitcher of his generation is consistency to a much-ballyhooed routine. But with Kershaw experiencing back trouble over recent seasons, it’s led to a give and take with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The team has more aggressively removed Kershaw from starts during circumstances that he otherwise would have remained in the game, and regularly sought to provide the three-time Cy Young Award winner with extra rest between outings.
Both of those were a factor this week, as Kershaw’s scheduled start was pushed back. As a result he took the mound Wednesday night at Marlins Park on seven days’ rest.