'Ready for the next one': Kershaw preps for NLDS opener

SAN FRANCISCO -- As Clayton Kershaw walked off the mound at Oracle Park, he quickly glanced up at the crowd, which was serenading him with a standing ovation. Some of his teammates joined in on that, too.

Kershaw, who has been the Dodgers’ ace for more than a decade, was sharp once again in his last tuneup before the postseason, allowing two runs and striking out five over 5 1/3 innings in the 2-1 loss to the Giants on Saturday at Oracle Park.

"Overall there were some good things,” Kershaw said. “Gave up a few more hard-hit balls than I would've wanted to. Obviously you can't walk the first two guys that last inning there. There's some things I'd like to take back. But overall, I feel actually pretty good. So I'm in a good spot going into the playoffs."

Only Kershaw knows if that was the last time he walked off the mound in a regular-season game. The 35-year-old has continuously said he’ll make his future decisions on a year-to-year basis. He has said he hasn’t thought about his future yet, solely focusing on this Dodgers run, but it’ll come during the offseason.

Before all that, however, one thing is becoming more and more certain: The next time Kershaw takes the mound will be in Game 1 of the National League Division Series as the likely future first-ballot Hall of Famer will serve as the anchor in the rotation yet again.

“Well, that’s how it’s lining up,” said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. “I expect him to come out of this feeling well, given his demeanor, how he felt after tonight. If that’s the case, it seems like pretty much a no-brainer.”

For the majority of his career, his teammates and coaches have been in awe with what Kershaw has done on a baseball field. His list of accolades start, but certainly don’t end, with three NL Cy Young Awards and an MVP trophy. This season, he joined the 200-win club and would almost certainly reach 3,000 strikeouts if he decides to play next season, needing just 56 more.

But what Kershaw has done this season for the Dodgers might be just as impressive as what he accomplished during the prime of his career, but for different reasons. Kershaw missed over a month with an injured left shoulder that is still not feeling 100 percent.

It’s an injury that had the Dodgers holding their breath for quite some time. It was serious enough that it has reduced Kershaw’s velocity by nearly 2 mph. Kershaw, however, has continued to be effective, allowing just nine runs in eight starts since coming back from the IL.

“Honestly, when I came back I didn’t really know what to expect,” Kershaw said. “Give [Roberts] a lot of credit. He’s handled it really well, giving me some extra days to kind of get my feet under me. Now I feel pretty good. I feel I’m kind of turning a corner health-wise and feel good. Ready for the next one.”

The next one will be against either the Brewers, D-backs or Marlins at Dodger Stadium in Game 1. Kershaw is not a stranger in taking the ball to open a postseason series. He’s done it more than a handful of times throughout his career.

This time, however, it came unexpectedly. Just a few months ago, nobody was sure if it would even happen for Kershaw. Now, given the uncertainties surrounding the Dodgers’ rotation and how they plan to deploy the pitching staff, perhaps no player on the roster will be more important than the left-hander over the next month.

It might be Kershaw’s last run at another World Series. Maybe it’s not. But against all odds, here he is again, ready to tackle what comes with being in the spotlight in October.

“Whenever it is, I’m just excited to get to do it. It’ll be fun,” Kershaw said. “With the way this year kind of went, I didn’t really expect to be in this spot for a lot of reasons. But it’s here and if that happens, I’ll be ready.”