Dodgers make the Cy Young case for Clayton Kershaw

King Clayton? 12 Questions to Ask Before You Vote!

But Kershaw’s admittedly-biased catcher, A.J. Ellis, argued on Saturday that his candidacy shouldn’t be hurt by the Dodgers’ offensive shortcomings.

“It didn’t hurt Felix Hernandez a few years ago,” Ellis said, pointing to how the Seattle Mariners ace won the award in the American League in 2010 with a 13-12 record.

Kershaw’s all-around statistics are barely down from his Cy Young Award season last year.

Through Friday, he led the NL in earned-run average (2.58), as well as walks and hits per innings pitched (1.033). He ranked second in strikeouts (221), innings pitched (2192/3), hits per nine innings (6.842) and shutouts (two).

“The numbers speak for themselves,” Ellis said. “It’s really hard for starting pitchers to control wins and losses. All you can do is go out there and give your team in the best chance to win the game. I think having the lowest ERA in the National League does that. Our inability to score runs, especially when he pitches, may at the end of the day cost him.”

...Mattingly said that if he had a ballot, he would cast it for his own ace.

“I think he’s the best pitcher in baseball,” Mattingly said. “You tell me, ‘You can have any guy’; I’d take Clayton Kershaw.”