GLENDALE, Ariz. — The more things change, the more they stay the same.
The Dodgers’ first game as defending World Series champs in 2021 will be started by Clayton Kershaw. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts confirmed Sunday that Kershaw will make his ninth season-opening start, extending his franchise record — as long as he is healthy.
Kershaw started the Dodgers’ first game of the season in eight consecutive years, from 2011 through 2018. In 2019, however, a sore shoulder in spring training forced him to open the season on the Injured List. Hyun-Jin Ryu started the opener that year.
Last year, Kershaw was scheduled to start the opener before the pandemic shut the sport down and was still scheduled to start the opener when the season finally started in July. But a minor back injury in the days before the opener led to him again opening the season on the IL. Dustin May made the season-opening start in his place.
This season, Roberts acknowledged there were three candidates to start the opener in Colorado on April 1 — Kershaw, Walker Buehler and newly-signed Trevor Bauer — and there were “a lot of conversations” about which pitcher to choose.
“We all talked collectively. There’s really no wrong decision,” Roberts said. “I just feel that he’s earned it. He’s the right guy for the spot for 2021. For every reason, I just think it makes the most sense.”
Adding a twist to this year’s decision is the fact that the Dodgers open on the road. By the time they return for the home opener at Dodger Stadium on April 9 they will have played seven games (weather permitting) and will be in the middle of the second time through the rotation.
Earlier this spring, Kershaw acknowledged the added significance of starting that home opener this year of all years.
“Opening day is a special thing obviously,” he said. “So whoever gets to do that is obviously an honor and then I think the home opener in and of itself this year is very special — first time at Dodger Stadium with fans in a year after winning the World Series after 32 years. So regardless if there’s 10 fans or 2500 or whatever it is, it’s going to be a special day for all of us. I don’t know how the rotation lines up or anything but Opening Day, home opening day they’re both going to be pretty special this year.”
Roberts said there has been some discussion about who will start the home opener. But “ultimately the decision was he (Kershaw) was going to start Opening Day.”
By not starting Kershaw in the home opener against the Washington Nationals, it does free him up to fully participate in the ring ceremony and pre-game festivities celebrating the Dodgers’ 2020 championship.
“There might be something to that, yeah,” Roberts said.
Overall, Kershaw is 5-1 with a 1.05 ERA, 0.79 WHIP and 59 strikeouts in 51 2/3 innings on Opening Day.
The record for most Opening Day starts is held by Hall of Famer Tom Seaver (16, 11 with the New York Mets). Justin Verlander and Felix Hernandez (11) have made the most Opening Day starts among active players.
BELLINGER PROGRESS
Cody Bellinger played in another intrasquad game Sunday afternoon, continuing to progress in his recovery from right shoulder surgery in November.
Roberts said Bellinger will make his first Cactus League start on Tuesday in center field then likely play as the DH Wednesday. He said Bellinger’s at-bats have looked “really good especially considering he hasn’t seen live pitching in quite some time.”
After changing his setup and tinkering with his swing mechanics during the shutdown last year, Bellinger lost nearly 250 points off his OPS from his MVP season in 2019 (1.035) to 2020 (.789). He was particularly vulnerable to fastballs and overall his average exit velocity (91.2 mph to 89.3), barrel percentage (13 to 9.4) and hard-hit percentage (45.7 to 41.5) all dropped significantly, according to Statcast measurements.
“He’s a little bit more open than he was to finish last year. That’s kind of intentional,” Roberts said of Bellinger’s current setup with his front hip pulled towards the first-base dugout. “He’s getting off good swings and he’s seeing the baseball really well.”
ALSO
Roberts said the Dodgers will make a number of cuts Monday morning. Players sent to the minor-league camp will still be available to play in Cactus League games.
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