On Sunday morning Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts surmised Clayton Kershaw was “exactly where” he needed to be with relation to preparing for Opening Day of the 2018 season. Kershaw then went out and dominated for five innings against the San Diego Padres, and drove a go-ahead run for good measure.
The Cactus League start was Kershaw’s fifth of the spring, and one in which he extended his scoreless streak to 14.2 innings. The three-time Cy Young Award winner finished with eight strikeouts, needing only 70 pitches to get through the scheduled work.
Kershaw struck out the side in the second inning, putting away one batter on a slider, another with a curveball and the third on a fastball.