Sunday, September 25, 2011

Could today clinch the NL Cy Young for Clayton Kershaw?

As I write, Roy Halladay has put up three scoreless innings for the Phillies against the Mets today. Meanwhile, Clayton Kershaw is less than an hour from taking the mound against the Padres.

Today could very well determine the National League Cy Young Award winner. Halladay is already off to a nice start and Kershaw is facing a less-than-intimidating Padre offense.

As long as Kershaw doesn't totally bomb today, he should only strengthen his argument for the award.

Kershaw is 6-3 with a 2.31 ERA in 12 career starts vs. the Padres. He's 2-1 with a 2.16 ERA in five career starts in Petco Park.

We'll see what happens. It'd be quite the feat to have the Cy Young and MVP winners on a team that played the vast majority of the season at a sub-.500 clip. In fact, yesterday was the first chance all season the Dodgers had to be three games better than .500 -- but they promptly lost to Aaron Harang and the Padres.

Triple Crown Watch

Matt Kemp enters today's game still tied with Albert Pujols in home runs. Ryan Howard has one RBI in the first four innings for the Phillies. Ryan Braun is 1-for-2, raising his average to .332 (for the time being). Kemp enters the day at .325.

It's going to be tough to make up seven points, but it isn't completely unheard of. Really, he needs Braun to stop getting hits, but there's a reason he's one of the game's best hitters.

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