Los Angeles Dodgers star pitcher Clayton Kershaw is confident in his team’s means and ambitions at the dawn of the start of the 2023 season. of its mighty division rival, the San Diego Padres.
However, according to the big southpaw, the Dodgers have what it takes to beat the Padres and stay on top of the National League West.
At the top of the hierarchy
The Dodgers will be aiming to be division champions for the tenth time in 11 years. Only the San Francisco Giants have finished ahead of them during this period. It was in the 2021 season, a season where the Giants played above their heads all 162 games. LA finished second overall with a record of 106 wins, one shy of San Francisco, It has to be done!
As for the Padres, their last division title dates back to 2006, so that’s a long time ago! According to several experts in the baseball world, and several experts from this blog including yours truly, the Padres should finish first in their division in 2023, a first in 17 years.
The addition of players such as Xander Bogaerts and Nelson Cruz to the San Diego side, combined with the losses of Trea and Justin Turner as well as Craig Kimbrel to the Dodgers, in particular, do not seem to affect Kershaw’s level of confidence to see his collective finish ahead of that of the Padres. It’s noble of him.
Granted, the Dodgers have quite the ball lineup despite key losses. We need only think of the Betts, Freeman, Urias, Smith and Kershaw himself to inspire the youngest. Although he is not getting any younger, the latter will be able to offer good innings of work for his manager Dave Roberts.
And the series, in all this?
Remember that despite their brilliance in the regular season, the Dodgers lost their flag in the playoffs last year against the Padres. All in four games. Regular season success is all well and good, however, the month of October hasn’t been much to Dodgers fans for a long time.
In short, we will see the direction that the two clubs will take during the season. The Dodgers begin their regular schedule at home against Arizona on Thursday in a four-game series.
The Padres also start their season at home and their opponent will be Colorado. It should be noted in your diaries that the first confrontation between the two Californian clubs will be held on May 5, and this, at the home of the Padres.
