KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Royals will see a pitcher they have never faced Tuesday, Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander Clayton Kershaw, the 2011 and 2013 National League Cy Young Award winner.
Not that Kershaw needed to boost his reputation, but he threw a no-hitter in his most recent start.
A few of the Royals saw Kershaw with other clubs, the most being second baseman Omar Infante (2-for-9) and outfielder Justin Maxwell (0-for-7). No other Royal owns more than three at-bats against the Los Angeles ace.
“I’ve never faced Kershaw,” Royals designated hitter Billy Butler said. “It’s not hard to see him pitch. You see all his highlights. It’s still different than actually facing him. It’s going to be a tough task. Obviously, his numbers are up there with the elite that have ever played the game.
“His success speaks for itself. It’s going to be tough. There’s not a bad thing you can say about him. What do you want me to say, ‘He stinks.’ You wouldn’t believe me. I’m not going to say that because it’s not true.”
Kershaw struck out 15 Colorado Rockies and issued no walks in his gem last Wednesday, an 8-0 triumph.
“The only thing I think about that is he’s due to give up a hit,” Butler said. “That’s the only thing I think of. It’s not going to be easy.”
Johnny Vander Meer, June 11 and 15, 1938, with the Cincinnati Reds, is the only pitcher in major league history to throw back-to-back no-hitters.