Since May 4, 2010, Clayton Kershaw has gone 4-1 with a 1.08 ERA.  He has struck out 36 while allowing only 13 BB and is holding opponents to a .174 Batting Average.

Since 1900, only 5 Dodgers pitchers have had consecutive victories, with at least 7 IP, 7 K’s, 1 Run and 3 Hits or less in two consecutive starts:

• Koufax
• Sutton
• Hershiser
• Park
• Kershaw

Clayton is the youngest pitcher in LA Dodger history to strike out 13 batters in a game.  Koufax had 14 in Brooklyn from a mound 6″ higher.

Since 1900, only 5 Dodger pitchers 21 or under have been in the Top 10 in ERA:

• Branca
• Drysdale
• Valenzula
• Sutton
• Kershaw

In 2009, Clayton Kershaw was first in all of Major League Baseball with the following:

• Lowest Batting Average Allowed (.200 Batting Average against him)
• Lowest Slugging Percentage Allowed (.282 Slugging Percentage against him)
• Lowest Number of Hits Per 9 Innings (6.26 hits per 9 innings)

Sometimes, we get frustrated with young Clayton and expect more than he delivers, but he’s pretty darn good right now and is getting better inch-by-inch.  We should enjoy watching him morph into the Dodgers Ace.  He goes tonight.  Let’s hope he has a good ride!

I like Blake DeWitt, but he’s losing out on the opportunity to be the Dodgers 2B.  Jamey Carroll starts tonight.  Casey Blake still has a sore back, so Belly starts at 3B.

Tonight’s Lineup:

1. Furcal  SS
2. Kemp  CF
3. Ethier  RF
4. The Sloth  LF
5. Loney  1B
6. Belliard  3B
7. Martin  C
8. Carroll  2B
9. Kershaw  P