On May 4, 2021, 3-time Cy Young winner Clayton Kershaw started for the Dodgers for game 1 of the doubleheader against the Cubs. He threw 39 pitches in the first inning, giving up 4 hits and allowing 4 earned runs. He only tossed one inning and it’s Kershaw’s shortest start of his career. Well, that makes me think of something. How’s Kershaw’s performance in the first inning? Which pitcher normally has some problems in the first inning?
There’s no doubt that Kershaw is one of the most dominant pitchers in the majors. Kershaw said he was embarrassed by short start in Chicago. However, when we look at Kershaw’s performance by inning, it might be really hard to complain. Kershaw has played 14 seasons with the Dodgers, he has a 2.71 ERA in the first inning and batters only hit .202 against him. So, actually Kershaw doesn’t have big problems in the first inning. But, in the 4th inning and in the 6th inning, Kershaw’s ERA is slightly higher and opponents post a batting average around .230. Overall, all is under Kershaw’s control. Indeed, a three-time Cy Young winner is truly trustworthy.
For Kershaw, there might be some games that he has a rough first inning. However, for some pitchers, first innings could be really rough.
Luis Castillo made 12 starts in the 2020 season and he gave up 11 hits in the first inning. Castillo already made 10 starts this season and he gave up 21 hits in the first inning. Opponents bat .412 against Castillo in the first inning. He has struggled in the first inning and the Reds have to search for solutions. Kyle Hendricks has the same problem in the first inning this season. He already gave up 17 hits with 15 earned runs in the first inning. Hendricks had a good 2020 with a 2.88 ERA. Hendricks made 12 starts last season and he only gave up two runs in the first inning last season. In addition, Brad Keller also allowed 17 hits in the first inning. Brad Keller had a solid 2.47 ERA last season. In Keller’s 9 starts last season, he only gave up 5 hits with 3 earned runs. Keller already made 10 starts so far and he was hit hard with a .378 BAA in the first inning. Moreover, Trevor Cahill, Chris Flexen, Jordan Lyles and Patrick Corbin are hit hard in the first inning this season as well since they each gave up 15 hits. How to settle down in the first inning is the top priority for them.
Ross Stripling was an All-Star in the 2018 season and he was a reliable pitcher with the Dodgers. However, Stripling has struggled since the 2020 season. This season, he made 6 starts so far and gave up 14 hits in the first inning. xwOBA against Stripling in the first inning is .494. Kohei Arihara signed a two-year contract with the Rangers after pitching 6 seasons with the Nippon Ham Fighters in NPB. Arihara had 7 starts this season and he gave up 8 runs (all earned) in the first inning, xwOBA against Arihara is .485 in the first inning. Unfortunately, Arihara will need shoulder surgery and he’ll be out at least 12 weeks. Furthermore, Griffin Canning and Marcus Stroman probably need some time to settle because they each see an over .440 xwOBA in the first inning and it seems that batters know how to make solid contact against them.
How to avoid first inning trouble is an important lesson for MLB pitchers. Kershaw used to have a rough first inning and some pitchers are hit hard in the first inning. Even the 2020 AL Cy Young winner has some problems in the first inning this year, Shane Bieber gave up 12 hits in the first inning in 10 starts. Maybe MLB batters love to attack early before pitchers are settling down? Or using an opener is a really good idea?
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