Clayton Kershaw’s numbers aren’t what they used to be.
On Tuesday night, in the 6-3, loss to the Miami Marlins, the three-time Cy Young Award winner struck out three in five innings, giving up five hits and just as many walks. His velocity was also noticeably down, not throwing a pitch over 89.9 mph.
“I can’t pitch the way I pitched tonight,” Kershaw told reporters (h/t The Athletic) after the game. “That’s not good.”
Kershaw was reinstated from the injured list on Aug. 10 after being out for six weeks due to left shoulder inflammation. Since his return, Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts noticed the dip in velocity, even stating Kershaw hadn’t been 100 percent healed.
Mind you, at this point in the season, every player is dealing with some sort of ailment.
The Athletic reported Kershaw repeatedly said on Tuesday, “I feel fine,” numerous times.
As far as what this means for Kershaw’s future. It’s ultimately up to him.
“He’s going to keep going until he can’t,” Roberts said. “If he is able to take the baseball, he’s going to take the baseball.”
Kershaw signed a one-year, $20-million contract this offseason. While the possibility of retirement looms, he remains unsure when that day will come.
As I said, it’s ultimately up to him.
