Washington Nationals-Dodgers Game 1 NLDS Preview

Inside Kershaw’s Numbers

When you look at Kershaw’s pitch arsenal, he has a fastball that averages out at about 93 miles per hour to go with a slider, a breaking ball, and changeup. This season, he has upped his slider usage from 27.5% to 33.3%. Both of those numbers are according to Fangraphs.

This season, teams have had a tough time making contact on the Kershaw slider. According to Brooks Baseball, teams are hitting only .138 against the slider with six extra-base hits (two home runs) and 74 strikeouts in 189 at-bats.

Back on June 20, Kershaw defeated the Washington Nationals at Dodger Stadium. He went 7.1 innings, gave up one run on six hits, and struck out eight in a win. Out of the eight strikeouts that he had, six of them come via that slider. Also, 11 of his 17 breaking balls that night went for strikes (Brooks Baseball).

Against Kershaw, you have to swing early in the count because of that command. Lately, the Washington Nationals offense hasn’t taken many pitches. But, against an ace like Kershaw, that first pitch might be the best pitch they see in the entire at-bat.

If you try to wait for your pitch, the left-hander usually makes you pay. With two strikes in the count, teams are hitting only .116 against him. According to Inside Edge, he uses the offspeed pitch 64.7% when he gets in those two strike counts (tenth highest in the league).

The only hitters who have had success against Kershaw in this lineup is left fielder Jayson Werth (.313, two home runs) and Murphy (two postseason home runs).

In this game, the battle to watch is between Kershaw and Bryce Harper. Harper is only 1-for-15 with ten strikeouts against Kershaw in his career. In the last two seasons, he is 0-for-9 with seven K’s. That being said, the one hit was a home run back in 2014.