Clayton Kershaw
photo by Tim Evearitt
As Chattanoogans get used to the fact that their Lookouts' team is no longer affiliated with the L.A. Dodgers, they will be able to remind themselves that one day in April of 2014, one modern baseball's greatest pitchers, Clayton Kershaw, pitched for the Chattanooga Lookouts at AT&T Field in a rehab assignment.
Kershaw will almost undoubtedly win the National League Cy Young Award, and he is strengthening his NL MVP Award resume, for his masterful 2014 season.
Kershaw had a shaky first inning Friday but the Dodgers beat the Cubs, 14-5.
He has become part of Major League history.
With the victory, Kershaw joins former Red Sox ace Pedro Martinez as one of two pitchers since World War II to win 20 games in fewer than 30 starts. Martinez accomplished the feat for Boston in 1999.
How good is Kershaw this year?
Where to start ...
He is 20-3 with a 1.80 ERA. He's thrown six complete games, held opponents to a .190 batting average, posted a 0.83 WHIP, struck out 228 and been totally unfazed by the notion of pitching on the road, posting a 11-1 record and a 1.74 ERA away from the friendly confines of Dodger Stadium.
He's 4-0 with a 1.60 ERA in three September starts and has won 17 of his last 18 decisions.
---- Source: MLB.com
Clayton Kershaw
photo by Tim Evearitt