If you are one of those bottom line, spare-me-the-fluff types, I’ve got some bad news for you: the Dodgers lost to the Chicago Cubs on Thursday afternoon at Dodger Stadium to split the four-game series with the North Siders. In fact, the Dodgers flat out got their butts kicked by a final score of 11-5.

But if you are one of those silver lining, glass is half full types who look for the best in every situation regardless of how bad it may be, like losing to the Chicago Cubs by a score of 11-5, I’ve got some good news for you: Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw was brilliant in his 5.0 innings pitched on Thursday afternoon, as he works his way back from a lower back strain for which he spent three weeks on the disabled list.

In those five innings, his second start since being activated from the DL on June 23, the 30-year-old Dallas, Texas native and seven-time All-Star, five-time ERA champion, three-time NL Cy Young award winner, Triple Crown winner, NL MVP, and Gold Glove winner (aka: future Hall of Famer) allowed only one run on four hits, while walking none and striking out six on 68 total pitches of his predetermined five-innings or 75-pitch limit.

If Thursday’s outing is any indication, and it most certainly should be, the Clayton Kershaw that we all know and love is very near to once again being the Clayton Kershaw that we all know and love.
(Photo credit – Jon SooHoo)

“Very. It was, after a loss [in his last start], very positive for us going forward,” said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, when asked how excited he was with Kershaw’s outing on Thursday afternoon. “Clayton was efficient, got up and down five times, I thought the fastball had life, 92-93, good command, the curveball was sharp, and the slider was good. So I think that it’s only going to get better.

“And talking with the training staff, Rick [Honeycutt] afterward, Clayton felt good where his body was at,” Roberts added.

That’s the good news.

The bad news is that Kershaw’s replacement, 23-year-old right-hander Walker Buehler, who himself is working his way back from a right rib microfracture, the result of being struck by a line drive on May 21, was… well… awful.

In his two innings of work on Thursday, the extremely polite Lexington, Kentucky native and Dodgers 2015 first-round draft pick out of Vanderbilt University allowed five runs on five hits (including a home run), while walking one and striking out none, prompting many Dodger fans to question why the Dodgers elected to have him make his “rehab” appearance with the big league club instead of sending him out to one of the team’s minor league affiliates.

“Where our pen was at, you’ve got four guys down, you’ve got Walker going to pitch that same day, anytime he takes the mound we feel good,” said Roberts, almost defensively. “Seeing him from the side, his stuff was good, 97-98. You’ve got to give credit to those guys over there. They squared him up, they took good at-bats.

“I think that Walker, talking with the trainers, he felt good, just the natural body kind of soreness back in there competing, but as far as the rib, felt good. Twenty-two pitches I think the first inning, to push him beyond the two I didn’t feel good about, especially since he had trouble in that second inning.”

Trouble indeed.

It’s safe to say that Buehler did not have the outing that he – and Dodger fans – had hoped for on Thursday afternoon. (Photo credit – Jon SooHoo)

Buehler was charged with a blown save of Kershaw’s gem and was tagged with the loss – his second of the season to go along with his four wins. He also saw his ERA climb from 2.68 to 3.44 because of the five earned runs he allowed on Thursday.

So there you have it – some good news and some bad news. Take your pick.