Umpire Laz Diaz off to rough start on Clayton Kershaw strikeout (Video)

As if Clayton Kershaw needed any help, Laz Diaz might’ve given him a free strike

Diaz won’t be on the good side of Tampa Bay Rays fans early in Game 1. Already up against a tough test in Kershaw, the Rays had a chance to make an early impact. The future Hall of Famer got off to an iffy start, putting two Rays on base thanks to solid contact by Yandy Diaz and a walk of Randy Arozarena.

Facing Hunter Renfroe, Kershaw was able to get the right-handed hitter out on a check swing, though Rays fans think differently.

Kershaw has a chance to change his legacy with a solid Game 1 performance. It won’t completely alter his past failures, but recency bias always wins out. Should Kershaw and the Dodgers finally win the World Series at the expense of the Rays, it’ll go a long way in solidifying his reputation with very few holes to point to.

The Dodgers, on paper, have the edge heading into Game 1. Laz Diaz knows that.. Even the Rays know that. But such a call on Renfroe doesn’t point one way or another. Sadly, the call on the field was a strikeout, meaning Rays fans will just have to deal with the consequences.