Where are they? Where are all the so-called baseball experts and national media guys who kept asking “What’s wrong with Clayton Kershaw” when he was only 3-3 with a 3.86 ERA and a MLB-best 83 strikeouts at the end of May? Or 5-6 with a 3.20 ERA and a MLB-best 140 strikeouts at the end of June? Where are they now after his brilliant 5-0 complete game shutout on Wednesday night over the Philadelphia Phillies at Dodger Stadium in which he struck out 13 and walked none, lowering his ERA to 2.85 with a MLB-best 160 strikeouts? Chances are they’re toeing the ground mumbling to themselves.

The point is that there is nothing wrong with Clayton Kershaw and, in fact, there never has been. He’s perfectly fine and if Wednesday night’s performance doesn’t convince the naysayers otherwise then they might want to consider another line of work.

Granted, the 27-year-old Dallas, Texas native hasn’t been as sharp this season as he was last season or the season before that or the two before that, but take a look at what he did in those four previous seasons. It is inconceivable that anyone can do what Kershaw has done for a fifth consecutive season. And had he received even two more runs of support in each his 17 previous first-half starts, he would have 10 wins right now instead of six. And although I’m not a big fan of the Quality Starts statistic, Kershaw is now second in the MLB with 15 (out of his 18 starts) – one behind teammate Zack Greinke who leads all of baseball with his 16 Quality Starts.

But even the biggest Kershaw fans undoubtedly noticed that he was better that his normal good self on Wednesday night when he picked up his first complete game and shutout of 2015.

“Throwing a complete game, shaking the guys hands at the end of the game, that’s what Sandy [Koufax] always said, that’s the goal, so that was fun,” Kershaw told reporters after the game.

Home plate umpire Paul Schrieber rings up Phillies pinch-hitter Andres Blanco to secure Kershaw’s first complete game and shutout of the season. Kershaw struck out 13 on the night without allowing a walk.
(Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

Even Kershaw realized that he was better than usual in the Dodgers eventual 5-0 win over the Phillies – especially with his curveball.

“I threw it for strikes which was big,” said Kershaw. “The last couple starts the break was there but the teams were laying off of it and doing a good job of really just taking it, so I was able to throw strikes with it tonight and it helped out.”

As he always does – through good times and bad – Kershaw yet again credited his teammates for the win, especially his catcher and best friend A.J. Ellis who was 3 for 4 on the night with a huge two-run home run in the bottom of the second inning.

“I’ve always said A.J. can hit. Obviously you saw it last year in the postseason – different types of situations – he can always hit in big games and things like that,” said Kershaw. “I think for him, this year is probably just trying to figure out how to play once every few days and it’s not as easy as it looks. I think the last few starts he’s had he’s gotten some hits and working some counts like he always does, so it always feels good to see him do well.”

Although Ellis provided all the runs that his friend would need, the suddenly hot Jimmy Rollins took his former team out of the game for good with a spirit-crushing three-run home run in the bottom half of the third inning. What made Rollins’s blast even more impressive is that it was only his second of the season off of a left-hander as a right-handed batter. Rollins now has eight home runs on the season to go with his 29 RBIs.

Through the first three games of the four-game series against his former team, Rollins is 4 for 12 (.333) with a home run and five RBIs. And although the switch-hitting shortstop is still hitting only .213 on the season, his batting average is now headed in the right direction. 
(Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

But without question the biggest winners on Wednesday was the Dodgers bullpen, who finally got the entire night off because of Kershaw’s masterpiece. And although recent arrivals (earlier that day, in fact) Josh Ravin and Chin-hui Tsao began throwing in the bottom of the ninth after Kershaw allowed a one-out double to Phillies catcher Carlos Ruiz, the defending NL MVP and Cy Young award winner struck out the final two batters to end the game on 123 total pitches.

“I’m sure another base runner I would have come out for sure,” said Kershaw. “I don’t know, just trying to get outs at that point. Obviously that run doesn’t matter a whole lot so I’m not really focusing on him. Just trying to get three outs as quick as possible.”

As for all of those “What’s wrong with Clayton Kershaw” people, the answer should now be abundantly clear is. There is absolutely nothing wrong with him.

Enjoy Cincinnati, Clayton.