Today could be the end of a mini-era. Indeed, the Los Angeles Dodgers play the Washington Nationals in game five of the NLDS at Dodger Stadium. If the Dodgers were to lose, it will end a run of three straight NLCS appearances for the franchise.
Equally important, Walker Buehler will start and Clayton Kershaw is ready in relief. Now, Alden Gonzalez of ESPN has a story which talks of the duo’s relationship.
With the Dodgers’ season on the brink, it’ll be Walker Buehler starting and Clayton Kershaw pitching in relief. A look at their relationship, and how they have helped each other grow.
“He’s there to be an ear, and also to tell you you’re being an idiot.” https://t.co/aavLlTxUCR
— Alden González (@Alden_Gonzalez) October 9, 2019
First off, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts says that the pair push one another to be better.
“A lot of times, they challenge each other,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “It’s forced them both to grow.”
Without question, the Dodgers have to feel pretty confident in Buehler starting on Wednesday. The young right-hander is 5-0 in elimination-style games in his young career. This includes three times in the 2018 playoffs that he took the ball and got the victory for Los Angeles. Already in this current series, Buehler won game one.
However, one must wonder; does any part of Buehler want the ace title from Kershaw. If you take the young buck at his word, he sounds like he’s fine with the dynamic as it is.
Buehler expanded upon what it’s like to make the comparison between the two.
“I think people can be critical of somebody saying that, obviously. I’m in my second full year in the major leagues, and that guy’s won more Cy Youngs than I have seasons,” Buehler said. “But at the same time, he was 25 years old once, too. I think that’s what younger guys have a tough time with. Michael Jordan was a 21-year-old, too, you know? I just think about it that way and try to progress at the level I can and do what I can. And if you can help me move forward, that’s fantastic. But I’m not just going to emulate everything someone else did and expect to become who they are. I don’t think that’s how the world works. You can’t just copy everything Apple does, right, and expect to be Apple.”
Finally, it should be mentioned that Kershaw lost game two of the series and is still trying to shake the national perception that he is not good a postseason pitcher. While Stephen Strasburg takes the ball for the Nationals, you have to feel good about the Dodgers’ chances at home. Furthermore, it’s good to know that the two guys who will get the ball are with each other and not against.
There simply is no bad blood between the two aces of the Los Angeles Dodges. Which is why they just might find a way to pull the summer sun up into the sky late in the fall one more time.
