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Dodgers News: Clayton Kershaw ‘Focused’ On Improving Mechanics For First Time In Career

Matt Borelli
3 Min Read
Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

Sidelined since the first week of May with left biceps tendinitis, Los Angeles Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw is now set to return after a steady build up that began with throwing off flat ground.

Over the weekend, Kershaw successfully completed a simulated game and felt healthy afterward, throwing 60 pitches over four innings against the likes of Austin Barnes, Cody Bellinger, Kiké Hernandez and Chase Utley.

It left the three-time Cy Young Award winner on track to return and start in the series finale against the Philadelphia Phillies. Aside from gaining a pitcher of Kershaw’s caliber, his coming off the disabled list comes at an opportune time as Kenta Maeda is now sidelined.

While on the disabled list, Kershaw revealed he extensively worked on improving his mechanics for the first time in his career, per Bill Plunkett of the Southern California News Group:

“I’ve been working on little stuff here and there,” Kershaw said. “But when you start focusing on getting hitters out, you obviously stop thinking about your mechanics and just focus on trying to get hitters out. … You never should focus on mechanics when you’re competing. That’s what the in-between (starts) is for. I’m never really been a mechanics guy. The past few weeks I’ve been working on it a little bit. It’s probably the first time that I can remember that I really focused on it. We’ll see.”

Prior to his injury, Kershaw had made seven starts while compiling a 2.86 ERA, 3.68 FIP and 1.14 WHIP over 44 innings pitched with 48 strikeouts to 10 walks.

He has already yielded seven home runs this season, which is tied with Rich Hill and Alex Wood for the team high. So perhaps tinkering with mechanics under the guidance of pitching coach Rick Honeycutt will prove beneficial for Kershaw going forward.

Kershaw’s inevitable return to the starting rotation will further stabilize a unit that in addition to Maeda, has lost the likes of Hill and Hyun-Jin Ryu to respective blister and groin injuries.

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Matt Borelli covers the Los Angeles Dodgers as a staff writer for Dodger Blue and holds similar responsibilities for Lakers Nation, a sister site with an emphasis on the Los Angeles Lakers. He also contributes to RamsNewswire.com and RaidersNewswire.com. An avid fantasy sports player, Matt is a former 2014 MLB Beat the Streak co-champion. His favorite Dodgers moment, among a list of many, is Clayton Kershaw's no-hitter against the Colorado Rockies in 2014. Follow him on Twitter: @mcborelli.