Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw has been outstanding this year. While his raw stuff isn’t the same as when he was winning three Cy Young Awards in four years, the results on the field would fit right in with those peak years. After allowing one run in six innings in his most recent outing on Monday, his 2.39 ERA is slightly better than his 2.49 career mark, which is the best in the live-ball era for a pitcher with at least 1,500 innings pitched.
For Kershaw, the only question this year has been his health. Back problems have landed him on the injured list twice this season, but when he’s been active, he’s been outstanding.