When you think of any Dodgers postseason series Game-1 starter – regardless of the series – you immediately think of 34-year-old future Hall of Fame left-hander Clayton Kershaw, right? I mean, why wouldn’t you?

Not so fast.

Although the Dallas, TX native and Dodgers first-round draft pick in 2006 out of Highland Park High School in University Park, TX has started nearly every postseason Game-1 in recent (and not so recent) memory, Kershaw’s run of postseason Game-1 starts may be coming to an end.

Even though the Dodgers will have five full days off following Wednesday’s 2022 regular season finale against the National League West last-place Colorado Rockies at Dodger Stadium (which Kershaw will start) and Game-1 of the 2022 National League Division Series on Tuesday, October 11, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts was non-committal when asked who his NLDS Game-1 starter would be.

“We don’t know yet, we’ve got time to think about that,” Roberts answered, to the surprise of the gathered media following his team’s third consecutive loss to those aforementioned NL West last-place Rockies. “But assuming he (Tuesday night’s starter Julio Urías) comes out of it well, which he said, depending on how Clayton comes out of it, but there’s some things to kind of debate as far as one verses two; not only that start in particular, but be a factor on how that can be deployed later on, too.”

The again, Urías finished his final start of the 2022 regular season with a current MLB-best 20 wins and a National League-best 2.16 ERA in his 31 starts and is a (very) strong candidate to win the 2022 NL Cy Young Award, whereas Kershaw, coming off a lengthy stint on the IL for right SI (sacroiliac) joint inflammation, will enter Wednesday’s contest with an 11-3 record and 2.30 ERA in what will be his 22nd start of the 2022 regular season.

Although Kershaw is the clear emotional favorite among Dodger fans to get the nod, from a pure statistical standpoint (in a very statistically-driven sport), Urías is more than deserving of what has long been considered a tremendous honor.

Stay tuned…

Play Ball!

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