Kershaw Reflects on Past with Cardinals

The St. Louis Cardinals brought back some tough memories for Clayton Kershaw, who has had his share of battles with the team. Before Sunday’s game in St. Louis, they spotlighted three home runs by Matt Adams during the 2014 NLDS, which was definitely a painful moment for Kershaw and the Dodgers.

After a 7-3 win, Kershaw expressed his thoughts, saying, “I think it’s a bit of a bush league. But honestly, I don’t expect anything less from them, so I’m not too worried.” It seemed like a combination of sarcasm and acceptance about the rivalry.

In that infamous NLDS matchup, Kershaw initially dominated for six innings before the game turned sour in the seventh when he allowed runs to the first two batters. This game added to the mounting narrative surrounding his career, with whispers that left-handed pitchers struggled to win crucial playoff games.

Despite the tricky past, Kershaw has proven himself over the years. A ten-time All-Star and three-time Cy Young Award winner, he finally captured a World Series title in 2020 during the shortened season, putting some of those playoff doubts to rest.

However, injuries held him back last fall, which kept him from contributing to another championship win against the Yankees, further complicating his 2025 season start.

On Sunday, Kershaw managed to put those memories aside, turning in a solid performance. He allowed just one run over five innings, helping to secure a three-game sweep for the Dodgers against the Cardinals.

Reflecting on his journey, Kershaw noted, “The results aren’t always there, but I feel like each outing has been a step forward.” He’s had five starts so far this season and, sitting at 1-0 with an ERA of 4.35 and a WHIP of 1.55, it seems he’s finding his groove.