Kershaw nets NL Pitcher of Month nod for masterful July
Dodgers lefty posted 0.27 ERA, began scoreless-inning streak now at 37
The month of July for Clayton Kershaw put to rest any notion that he was not having another National League Cy Young Award-worthy season.
Kershaw was back to the level of dominance that has become the usual for him, putting together an outstanding string of starts that led to him being named the NL Pitcher of the Month.
In four starts in July, Kershaw was 3-0 with a 0.27 ERA (one run across 33 innings) and a 0.64 WHIP. Opposing batters stood little chance, accumulating a slash line of .162/.183/.188 against him and striking out 45 times.
Video: LAD@NYM: Kershaw strikes out 11 in three-hit shutout
Kershaw, who was named to his fifth NL All-Star team in July, allowed a run in his first outing of the month against the Mets, and he has not yielded one since, giving him a streak of 37 consecutive scoreless innings, which includes his first August start.
Kershaw will have the chance to surpass teammate Zack Greinke's scoreless-inning streak of 45 2/3 from earlier this season in his next start.
During his streak, Kershaw had three consecutive July starts where he fanned 11 or more hitters without allowing a walk. The last pitcher before Kershaw to have two such starts in consecutive outings was Cy Young in 1905, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
That Kershaw continues this superhuman pitching performance despite dealing with a sore right hip has made it even more impressive.
This is the fifth monthly honor for Kershaw, and it has become routine for him in July. He has won the award four times in the past five years in July.