Vintage Kershaw re-emerges in win over A's

 

 MLB.com reports:

In his Opening Day start against the Rockies, Clayton Kershaw didn’t look like himself. His signature slider wasn’t breaking the way it normally does and his fastball didn’t have much life. The Rockies punished him for six runs (five earned) on 10 hits, both the most Kershaw has allowed in any of his nine Opening Day starts.

After a rough Spring Training that saw him post a 10.22 ERA in four starts and battle the same issues that popped up on Opening Day, there were plenty of reasons to be concerned with which Kershaw the Dodgers were going to get in 2021.

But in the Dodgers’ 5-1 win over the A’s on Tuesday night, the 33-year-old lefty helped alleviate some of those concerns in a big way, allowing just one run on four hits and striking out eight over seven strong innings.

It was vintage Kershaw -- and you could practically hear a collective sigh of relief across the greater Los Angeles area. With eight strikeouts on Tuesday, Kershaw now has 2,743 in his career in the regular season and postseason combined. He passed Don Sutton (2,739) for most all-time by a Dodgers pitcher. Sutton is still the franchise’s all-time regular-season strikeout leader with 2,696, but Kershaw is right behind with 2,536.

“I thought he had everything working,” said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. “Just to see him get through seven innings, eight strikeouts and no walks, just a really stellar night.”

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Tatis (shoulder) to IL; surgery not expected

 

 MLB.com reports:

All things considered, the Padres and Fernando Tatis Jr. appear to have averted disaster.

San Diego placed Tatis on the 10-day injured list on Tuesday, a day after the superstar shortstop took a vicious hack at a pitch and crumpled in front of home plate in agony.

Tatis underwent further tests, including an MRI, on Tuesday, and Padres general manager A.J. Preller said those results indicate that Tatis will not require surgery -- which could have cost him several months and potentially ended his season.

On the swing, Tatis sustained a partial dislocation of his shoulder, and Tuesday's exams revealed a partial tear of his labrum. Those injuries will require rest and rehab to heal, Preller said, and the Padres wouldn't place a timeline on Tatis' return.

They have every reason to be cautious. Tatis, of course, signed a record-setting 14-year contract with San Diego in February after two brilliant -- but shortened -- seasons in the big leagues. Considering his ridiculous production across those two seasons -- .301/.374/.582 with 39 homers and 27 steals in 143 games -- any absence for Tatis would be crushing for a Padres team with World Series ambitions and the Dodgers to deal with in the National League West.

"Let's be real," said Padres manager Jayce Tingler. "You're not going to replace him. Now, can a group of eight, nine, 10, 11 guys step their game up a small percentage? Can we come together and pull for one another? ... Like I said, you're not going to replace him, but we believe in our guys."

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