To encourage efficiency, the Dodgers have kept a close eye on the 20-year-old's pitch counts. Kershaw has not thrown more than 99 pitches in any of his past seven starts, even when things are going well, which has taxed the bullpen. The Dodgers are trying to finish off Arizona, and the bullpen could get a breather Wednesday when Kershaw starts against the Padres. He has pitched more efficiently against San Diego than against other clubs: <!-- begin table --> <table class="tableheadFixWidth" border="0" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1" width="300"> <tbody><tr class="stathead"> <td colspan="3">Kershaw by opponent</td> </tr> <tr class="colhead" valign="top"> <td>Key stat</td> <td>Padres</td> <td>Others</td> </tr> <tr class="oddrow" valign="top"> <td>Pitches per plate appearance</td> <td>3.6</td> <td>4.0</td></tr> <tr class="evenrow" valign="top"> <td>Strike pct. on early counts</td> <td>65.3</td> <td>57.9</td> </tr> <tr class="oddrow" valign="top"> <td>Non-fastball strike pct.</td> <td>63.6</td> <td>51.9</td> </tr> <tr class="evenrow" valign="top"> <td>Pct. of PAs going to three-ball counts</td> <td>17.0</td> <td>25.0</td> </tr> <tr class="oddrow" valign="top"> <td>Pct. of PAs ending in 4 or fewer pitches </td> <td>75.5</td> <td>58.6</td> </tr> </tbody></table> <!-- end table --> Kershaw went 5 1/3 innings against the Padres on June 10 and logged seven innings against them Sept. 2. He has pitched five or fewer innings in half of his starts, including his most recent outing.
