The goal of a starting pitcher is to provide the team with a great chance to win in each start. This can be accomplished by limiting the scoring opportunities that the opposing team has.
The reality is that a pitcher will give up runs, because no individual on the mound is immune to allowing runs.
However, there is one starter that may cause us to change our mindset, as he just capped off an incredible month of June. Clayton Kershaw of the Los Angeles Dodgers allowed just four runs. And in the process has a very impressive streak.
Kershaw hasn’t allowed a run in the last 28 innings pitched. He is only another 31 innings away from an MLB record of 59 set by Orel Hershiser in 1988.
The southpaw went 6-0 in June with an ERA of 0.82 and 61 strikeouts. He is the only pitcher in major league history to remain undefeated with that win total, that number of strikeouts and have an ERA that low in a single calendar month.
Clayton Kershaw in the month of June: 6-0, 0.82 ERA (4 ER/ 44 IP), 61 strikeouts, four walks. The 12th six-win month in #Dodgers history.
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) June 29, 2014
According to ESPN Stats & Info, there are only three other pitchers who have gone 6-0 with a sub-1.00 ERA and 50 or more strikeouts in a month. Hideo Nomo in June 1995, Randy Johnson in April 2000 and Justin Verlander in June 2011. The 61 whiffs by Kershaw in June were the most by any Dodgers pitcher in any month since Sandy Koufax had 62 in June 1966.
Clayton Kershaw's 61 strikeouts in June were the most by any Dodgers pitcher in any month since Sandy Koufax (62) in June of 1966.
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) June 30, 2014
The record by Hershiser was believed to be untouchable, but Kershaw is one player that could possibly break it.
Photo: Huffington Post