Remarkable MLB Today - Thursday, September 7, 2017

The Los Angeles Dodgers have a virtually insurmountable lead in the division, but they seem more human as of late — going 1-11 in their past 12 games. Tonight, Clayton Kershaw takes the bump looking to swing LA back in the right direction. Kershaw owns the only win during the team’s 12-game slide, throwing six scoreless innings in his return from the DL.

Remarkable! tells us about some impressive feats he carries into the game:

Clayton Kershaw has not allowed a run in the first inning in any of his last 16 games dating back to May 6th (longest active streak).
He has pitched 20 straight innings without allowing an earned run (Stephen Strasburg has the longest active streak at 26.0).
Kershaw has allowed an OBP of .216 (237/1,098) since the start of 2016 (Rank: 1st of 106 qualified SPs in MLB; League Avg: .325).
Kershaw’s OPS against of .364 (87 PAs) with RISP this season ranks 1st of 164 qualified SPs in MLB; League Avg: .777

He has walked just 35 of 1,105 batters (3.2%) since the start of 2016 (Rank: 2nd of 106 qualified SPs in MLB; League Avg: 7.9%).

Let’s examine some contributions to the Dodgers’ terrible slide:

Dodgers hitters have an OBP of just .186 versus relief pitchers over the past 7 days (Rank: 30th of 30 in MLB; League Avg: .327).

Yasmani Grandal has struck out 8 times in 19 PAs (42.1%) over the past 7 days (Rank: 191st of 195 full-time hitters in MLB; League Avg: 21.6%).
Dodgers relievers have walked 13 of 72 right-handed batters (18.1%) over the past 7 days (Rank: worst in MLB; League Avg: 9.0%).
Opponents are hitting .329 against Dodgers pitchers (26-for-79) in late innings over the past 7 days (Rank: 27th of 30 in MLB; League Avg: .250)
Curtis Granderson has an OPS of just .195 (21 PAs) over the past 7 days (Rank: 194th of 195 full-time hitters in MLB; League Avg: .748).

Kershaw has demonstrated his dominance, but Lance Lynn and Corey Kluber have some Remarkable! stats to carry into their starts today too:

Lance Lynn has recorded 38 of his 43 strikeouts (88.4%) with his fastball since the All-Star Break (Rank: 1st of 129 qualified SPs in MLB; League Avg: 43.5%).
Lynn has allowed a BABIP of .177 with RISP since the start of 2016 (Rank: 1st of 106 qualified SPs in MLB; League Avg: .299).

Corey Kluber has allowed a slugging percentage of just .184 (142 Total Bases / 773 ABs) with two strikes since the start of 2016 (Rank: 2nd of 106 qualified SPs in MLB; League Avg: .287).
Opponents are hitting .206 against Kluber (288-for-1,395) since the start of 2016 (Rank: 3rd of 106 qualified SPs in MLB; League Avg: .261)