"It's like the best weirdest kept secret" - Ex-Phillies star has high expectations for Clayton Kershaw’s season debut after shoulder surgery

LA Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw is set to play his first game of the 2024 season after healing from shoulder surgery. Many are eagerly looking forward to his return, including former Phillies star Trevor Plouffe, who shared high expectations for Kershaw.

Plouffe spoke enthusiastically about Kershaw's career and his return to the mound on his podcast, "Baseball Today." He dismissed concerns about the pitcher's latest injury by saying:

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"My expectations are pretty dang high, shoulder surgery or not. Every time this guy takes the mound in the big leagues, he's fantastic. It's like the best weirdest kept secret." (Time stamp: 17:15)

Plouffe suggested Kershaw's consistency was a hallmark of his career:

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"Every time that Clayton's out there, he's gonna throw to a sub-three ERA and give the Dodgers exactly what they need because that's what he's done in his career." (Time stamp: 18:01)

At 36 years old, some might call Kershaw old, but his performances have shown otherwise. He averaged a 2.46 ERA with a 13-5 record in 2023 and is a 10-time All-Star.

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"I feel like he's got a lot of good innings left in him, dude. I feel like he's ONLY 36," said Plouffe (Time stamp: 21:01)

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Clayton Kershaw's role in rebuilding the Dodgers' injury-hit pitching rotation

The Dodgers have lost seven starters to injuries, including Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Walker Buehler. Tyler Glasnow was one of two pitchers who returned from the 15-day IL, with the other being Clayton Kershaw.

Kershaw is going to slot into the fourth place in the rotation, following Glasnow, rookie Gavin Stone and James Paxton. In a lineup that has long craved consistency, Clayton Kershaw’s comeback guarantees not only stability but also a wealth of experience and leadership.

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