Astros nearly ruined baseball and Clayton Kershaw’s legacy

Clayton Kershaw has been criticized by baseball fans for his struggles in the postseason. But, plenty of that is due to the Houston Astros cheating scandal

When MLB fans think of Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw, they classify him as an elite “regular-season pitcher.” That’s a solid compliment, until said individual brings up how Kershaw struggled when it mattered most: the postseason.

While it is true to say that Kershaw failed to do himself many favors in various big-game situations, you can’t help but put an asterisk next to his performance in the 2017 World Series against the Houston Astros for one sole reason: the Astros knew what pitches were coming.

Houston nearly ruined Kershaw’s career legacy due to sign-stealing

Back in 2017, the Astros were stealing signs illegally through a camera setup placed in center field of Minute Maid Park. Kershaw was a main victim of that scandal in Game 5 of the World Series in Houston, as he was shelled for six earned runs on four hits in 4.2 innings of work. The Astros went onto win that game 13-12 in the tenth-inning on what was dubbed one of the greatest contests in World Series history. Of course, that game is forever tainted, considering the Astros knew what pitches were coming from Kershaw and the rest of Los Angeles’ pitching staff.

Prior to the start of the 2020 World Series, Kershaw entered with a 5.03 ERA in the Fall Classic. According to Molly Knight of The Athletic, if Game 5 of the 2017 World Series were stricken from the record, Kershaw’s ERA would drop to 3.75. That point was even brought up by FOX play-by-play announcer Joe Buck during Kershaw’s start on Sunday.

Kershaw has redeemed himself in this year’s World Series against the Tampa Bay Rays, and has essentially silenced the narrative that he turtles when it matters most. Through his starts in Games 1 and 5, Kershaw accumulated a 2.31 ERA and 1.07 WHIP, while striking out 14 batters in 11.2 inning of work.

The Astros will always be viewed as an asterisk in MLB’s history, and it was almost detrimental to Kershaw’s legacy as a Hall of Fame pitcher. But now, 2017 can be viewed as a roadblock, as Kershaw is cruising in 2020, where the Dodgers are one win away from hoisting the Commissioner’s Trophy for the first-time since 1988.