If Clayton Kershaw isn't the NL MVP, considering the way he's pitched this year, he probably deserves at least 2 Cy Youngs for his troubles. "Season for the ages" is a term used far too often, but if Kershaw's 1.67 ERA, 0.82 WHIP and 210 strikeouts don't qualify then it's hard to imagine what would.
Sunday MLB viewing guide: Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers face Giants
The best pitcher in baseball in a key game against his team’s most hated rivals on Sunday. Even if it weren’t Clayton Kershaw, you should probably still be watching.
Harry How
And while the Dodgers have played well for most of the season, Kershaw has largely been the difference between a spot in the Wild Card game and a tie with the Giants atop the NL West. Heading into the finale of their last series in San Francisco (with three more games left at Dodger Stadium), L.A. needs another enormous performance from its $200 million man at AT&T Park.
He'll have to compete with Yusmeiro Petit. The right-hander has been solid all season (3.62 ERA) and was lights out in his last start, giving up just one run on four hits in a complete game against the Diamondbacks. If the Giants win, they will have made it through the Dodgers' three best pitchers -- Kershaw, Zack Greinke and Hyun-Jin Ryu -- relatively unscathed.
Sunday’s MLB Schedule
Time (ET) | Game | TV | Reason to watch |
1:07 p.m. | Sun Sports, Rogers Sports Network | The Blue Jays are in second place in the AL East, with Mark Buehrle on the mound. And while it would be more exciting if it were say, 2011, there's still fun to be had Up North. | |
1:08 p.m. | Sports Time Ohio, Fox Sports Detroit | Verlander has had a rough season, but if he hopes to become an important part of the Tigers' postseason rotation then games like this are crucial. | |
1:10 p.m. | MASN 2, SNY | Though the Nationals have all but wrapped up a playoff spot, games like this allow pitchers like Jordan Zimmermann to ramp up to the posteason | |
1:35 p.m. | Fox Sports Florida, Comcast Sports Philly | Decimated by injuries and with the playoffs almost out of reach, this series may be the Marlins' last stand. | |
1:35 p.m. | WGN, ROOT Pittsburgh | Things that no one wrote before the season started: the road to the NL Central crown goes through the Cubs. | |
2:10 p.m. | Fox Sports North, CSN Chicago | U.S Cellular Field in September, that's the dream. | |
2:10 p.m. | NESN, Fox Sports KC | It's hard to say what the Red Sox could possibly be playing for other than "spoiler," but if that's what they are going for then they're nailing it right now. | |
2:10 p.m. | Fox Sports Ohio, Fox Sports Wisconsin | Matt Garza and Mike Leake aren't quite household names, but that doesn't mean they aren't worth watching. | |
2:15 p.m. | ROOT Rocky Mountains, Fox Sports Midwest | If rookie Marco Gonzalez could have picked any game to replace Michael Wacha, one against the Rockies away from Coors would have to be at the top of the list. | |
3:05 p.m. | Fox Sports South, Fox Sports Southwest | After face planting in the first two games of the series, the Braves are just hoping to get out of Texas alive at this point. | |
3:35 p.m. | Fox Sports West, CSN Houston | The Angels might be the best in baseball. The Astros might be the most dysfunctional. This should end well for Houston. | |
4:05 p.m. | Dodgers at Giants | SportsNet LA, Comcast Sports Bay Area | Clayton Kershaw is magic, and he's playing at a "Harry Potter in the Goblet of Fire" level right now. Even if he weren't, this is the best rivalry in baseball. |
4:10 p.m. | A's at Mariners | Comcast Sports California, ROOT Seattle | While Satuday's game had the best pitcher on either of the two teams, Jon Lester/Chris Young on Sunday might be the best pitching matchup. |
4:10 p.m. | Padres at Diamondbacks | Fox Sports San Diego, Fox Sports Arizona | You'd better learn how to say Odrisamer Despaigne three times fast, because he may be a star someday. |
8:00 p.m. | ESPN | The Orioles have all but clinched the AL East, and can all but knock the Yankees out of the playoffs with a win. |
- With the Nationals’ magic number down to a little more than a handful, decisions like what to do with Tanner Roark are the best types of tough choices.
- The folks over at Viva El Birdos embrace your hate.
- If the Tigers manage to win the AL Central, it will be with a lot of help from J.D. Martinez.
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