Dodgers Manager Blasted For Pulling Out Pitcher Nearing Perfect Game

KEY POINTS

Clayton Kershaw falls short of registering a perfect game after being taken out by Dodgers manager Dave Roberts
Kershaw bats that being taken out before the eighth inning was the right move
The Dodgers are looking out for Kershaw, who had been plagued by injuries in the past

Coming off an injury, it is understandable that any MLB team would play it safe and look out for their prized wards.

But on Wednesday, April 13, Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts found himself in a spot.

Prized pitcher Clayton Kershaw was having a great outing as he was perfect through seven innings in his first start for the 2022 MLB season.

At that point, the 34-year-old had already thrown 80 pitches and appeared to be on the cusp of finishing his second no-hitter.

It would have been the three-time National League Cy Young Award winner’s first perfect game in his 15 years with the Dodgers, MLB.com reported.

Kershaw allowed no player from the Minnesota Twins to reach base. Had he been allowed to play on, the eight-time All-Star would have been just the 24th perfect game in MLB history.

Unfortunately, Roberts decided to pull out Kershaw before he could finish off the eighth and ninth innings.

The Dodgers manager was looking out for the 2014 NL MVP considering Kershaw had shortened spring training and had a history of injuries, TMZ reported.

Although the intent of Rodgers was understandable, it did not sit well with fans.

Most aired their take on social media, livid that Kershaw was deprived of the chance to make history.

As far as Kershaw is concerned, it was the right move. He is coming off a left forearm injury, a reason why he struggled last season.

He also had a platelet-rich plasma injection back in October, a reason why his normal offseason work got delayed. This was aside from the MLB lockout that affected spring training.

“Blame it on the lockout, blame it on me not picking up a baseball until January,” Kershaw stated. “My slider was horrible the last two innings. It didn’t have the bite. It was time.”

Alex Vesia came in to relieve Kershaw but surrendered a hit to Gary Sanchez in the eighth inning.

Regardless, Los Angeles managed to hang on to defeat the Minnesota Twins, 7-0.

“Kershaw went out there and was as impressive as any pitcher that you’ll see in this game,” Twins manager Rocco Baldelli stated. “His slider was a pitch that I think in some ways kinda took over the game for a really long stretch.”