Dodgers' Kershaw makes case for Final Vote nod with 1st shutout of 2015
Clayton Kershaw did his best Wednesday evening to remind the voting public he belongs at next week's All-Star Game at Great American Ball Park.
Making his final start before the 86th Midsummer Classic, the 27-year-old left-hander - one of five Final Vote nominees for the last roster spot on the National League All-Star team - stymied the Philadelphia Phillies over nine masterful innings for his first shutout of the season.
Kershaw required a season-high 124 pitches to navigate his first shutout since July 26, 2014, collecting 13 strikeouts - another season-high - while extending his streak of scoreless innings against the Phillies to 27. The reigning MVP allowed only eight hits and didn't walk a batter, lowering his ERA to 2.85 through 123 innings thus far in 2015.
Despite enjoying another sublime season, Kershaw entered Wednesday's start faced with the possibility of missing the All-Star Game for the first time since 2010. Though he carried an abnormally high 3.08 ERA into his outing against the Phillies, his numbers have been uniformly fantastic in 2015.
| Season | ERA | FIP | xFIP | K/9 | BB/9 | HR/9 | BABIP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 2.53 | 2.89 | 3.25 | 9.05 | 2.49 | 0.63 | .262 |
| 2013 | 1.83 | 2.39 | 2.88 | 8.85 | 1.98 | 0.42 | .251 |
| 2014 | 1.77 | 1.81 | 2.08 | 10.85 | 1.41 | 0.41 | .278 |
| 2015 | 3.08 | 2.54 | 2.12 | 11.61 | 2.13 | 0.87 | .301 |
Should Kershaw earn the final spot on the National League roster, the three-time Cy Young award winner will join four of his teammates - Zack Greinke, Adrian Gonzalez, Yasmani Grandal, and Joc Pederson - at next week's festivities in Cincinnati. Fans have until 4:00 pm ET on July 10 to submit their Final Vote ballots.