The World Series is here!!! The 114th edition of the Fall Classic begins in just a few hours. The powerhouse Red Sox who won 108 games in the regular season, square off against the twice incumbent National League champion Dodgers. Both teams match up well which could make for a 7 game classic. However, it is baseball, so anything can happen. One thing that we do know, arguably the 2 best left handed starters from the last 10 years are squaring off in Game 1. Clayton Kershaw vs Chris Sale. Although, this season has not been ideal by either’s standards, it still stands to be a battle of heavyweights. Heavy weight, of course, by Dominant Stuff factor. Both southpaws posses multiple knockout punches in their arsenals. Sale is technically a light heavyweight in terms of pounds, yet with one helluva reach. AKA The Condor

It is well known, that both pitchers have a strong track record of shutting down opposing lineups on most days. Hitters need to get a good night’s sleep and lefty hitters might as well stay home. Kershaw (2015) and Sale (2017) each tallied 300 Strikeout seasons. The first 2 to do so since Randy Johnson in 2002. The 2 also were selected to the Slider Domination Team USA starting rotation last year.

Clayton Kershaw vs Chris Sale

Over the years, it has been rare to see a World Series team that does not have an elite, front line starter. So expect to see a tight pitchers duel taken into the later innings….that is of course, if the stat geeks allow for these stud starters to face a lineup more than once. These 2 are above “4 IP, 1 ER is a solid outing by today’s postseason standards.”

 

 

Clayton Kershaw vs Chris Sale
KERSHAW

Clayton Kershaw was the 7th overall pick by the Dodgers in the 1st Round of the 2006 Draft out of Highland Park HS in Dallas. Fellow 1st Rounders that year were Andrew Miller, Tim Lincecum and Max Scherzer. More on that in a bit.

Kershaw debuted in 2008 and pitched in the postseason that year. The 2x 20 game winner has also lead the NL in ERA 5 times in 7 seasons. Twice with a sub 2.00 posting. The 7x All Star has won 3 Cy Young Awards (2011,13,14) and doubled up by winning the National League MVP in 2014. The same year he threw his No Hitter. The next season he became only the 11th pitcher to strikeout 300 hitters in a season. He needed just 232.2 IP to reach his 301.

Despite a subpar postseason career by his standards, it only takes a few DOMINANT performances for the baseball world to change their tune about his October resume. Frankly, it is all he has left to accomplish in this game….and he is only 30! He is currently 2-1 with a 2.37 ERA this postseason including 8 scoreless in Game 2 of the NLCS against the Braves.

Kershaw commands his fastball exceptionally well in the low 90s. Although, known for his legendary Koufax like curveball, he actually uses his Slider more frequently. 42.3% this season compared to his fastball (40.8%) and curveball (16.4%). As his fastball has been down a few ticks this season, he has never relied heavily on his heater to blow hitters away. His career fastball average velocity is 93.1. The man has achieved household name status by PITCHING!

℅ Fangraphs

Clayton Kershaw vs Chris Sale

As for the 2006 Draft, Kershaw, Lincecum and Scherzer have combined for 8 Cy Young awards, 5 No Hitters, 2 300 Strikeout Seasons and 1 MVP award. Keep ’em coming!

 

RELATED POST: SLIDER SPOTLIGHT: CLAYTON KERSHAW’S DOMINANT SLIDER

 

Clayton Kershaw vs Chris Sale
SALE

Chris Sale was drafted by the White Sox out of Florida Gulf Coast University in 2010 as the 13th overall pick. The College Baseball Player of the Year needed just 10.1 minor league innings before debuting in The Show the same year he was drafted.

Pitching strictly as a reliever his first 2 seasons, he joined the starting rotation with the White Sox in 2012. 3 times has he won 17 games and is in the midst of 6 straight seasons of 200+ strikeouts. His career 10.86 K/9 have enabled him to become the fastest pitcher to 1500 strikeouts.  

On December 6, 2016, Sale was traded to the Boston Red Sox for Luis Alexander Basabe, Michael Kopech, Victor Diaz and Yoan Moncada.

The 2x AL Strikeout leader and 7x All Star has a devastating Arsenal which has its way with both Lefties and Righties alike. His mid to high 90s fastball with his well beyond DOMINANT Slider has been his bread and butter since coming to the Bigs. The Stick Man, will show his fastball roughly 50% of the time. Backed up by his Deadly Slider, 35% and his change up, 15%. With an almost 20 MPH differential on the 2 pitches, low ¾ arm slot, and release point on the first base side of the rubber just shy to that of Randy Johnson’s, the man is a scary at bat for even the best hitters. Naturally, this is the next generation of the Big Unit Flu. Yet, still no cure. Go figure…
℅ Fangraphs

Clayton Kershaw vs Chris Sale

Mighty, Sale is bouncing back after a rough debut in the postseason last year. So far, he beat the Yankees in Game 1 of the ALDS and had a lights out 8th inning appearance in the Clinching Game 4. In the ALCS, Sale had a 4 inning no decision in Game 1 vs the defending champion Astros.

 

RELATED POST: CHRIS SALE STRIKEOUT SEQUENCE WITH THE SLIDER

 

Please baseball gods allow for a Round 2 between these 2 southpaw studs. Clayton Kershaw vs Chris Sale in a Game 5…maybe even a Game 7 match up too! WHY NOT! Consequently, the game needs it..

 

Keep Dominating!!!