After a long road back, Kershaw delivers in 2024 debut

LOS ANGELES -- After Clayton Kershaw had allowed two runs on four hits to the Giants to start the third inning and had fallen behind 3-0 to Patrick Bailey, his first start of the season was spiraling into borderline disappointing territory.

But then, Kershaw got a called strike on the outside part of the plate. Next, he got Bailey to chase a slider below the zone, and then he got him to whiff on another slider for a much-needed strikeout. With two runners on base, Kershaw struck out the next two batters to work out of the jam as the Dodger Stadium crowd roared in approval.

“It was great, you know, hearing his song come out and just watching him sweat, compete, punch guys out,” manager Dave Roberts said after the Dodgers’ 6-4 victory over the Giants. “It’s been such a long road for him back and I’m just happy for him. I’m happy for his family, and for the fans who get to see one of the greats.”

It was probably the most anticipated day for the Dodgers post-All-Star break, with the injury-plagued team desperately in need of fresh arms. And for Kershaw, it was the culmination of more than eight months of rehabbing -- the efforts of not just himself, but his trainers and the people around him to get him back on the mound for his 17th season with the Dodgers.

“There’s a lot of people in here that spent a lot of time with me to help me get back. People back home as well helped,” Kershaw said. “This was really cool that a lot of people cared so much to help me. And for me personally to go back out and pitch at Dodger Stadium, not that I ever did before, but I’m not going to take that for granted ever again.”

Kershaw cruised through his first two innings before the aforementioned third, and he came back to make quick work of the Giants in the fourth with a strikeout, popout and flyout while walking a batter. Roberts mentioned before the game that he wanted to see Kershaw reach the fifth inning, but it would depend on his efficiency.

Roberts ultimately pulled Kershaw for Joe Kelly to start the fifth inning. Kershaw allowed two runs on six hits with six strikeouts and two walks in his first start of the season.

“I thought we pushed him enough to get ready for his next one,” Roberts said of Kershaw’s performance. “We got a nice foundation.”

Of Kershaw’s 72 pitches, 47 were strikes. When assessing his performance after the game, Kershaw said he felt good about his breaking balls, but that his command of his fastball “had a little bit to be desired overall.”

“But first time back out, I’ll take it,” Kershaw said.

The timing of the returns of both Kershaw and Tyler Glasnow, who started Wednesday’s loss, couldn’t have lined up any better for Roberts, who feels like things are finally starting to look up for the Dodgers. They finished their homestand 6-1 after weathering a storm of injuries heading into the All-Star break.

“We’re getting healthy, we’re getting our guys back,” Roberts said. “Not to say that there’s not going to be some more challenges or another storm coming. But I do think that storm before the break, I think we weathered it and we got some momentum going into this road trip.”

For Kershaw, he’s focusing on every moment that he gets to contribute down the stretch of this season, grateful for every step along the way.

“I don’t take for granted what this organization means to a lot of people in Los Angeles and all over the world,” Kershaw said. “... To be doing what you’re meant to be doing is a good thing.”