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Yes, Clayton Kershaw is not the ace of the staff any longer.
I hate to say it but he has consistently underperformed in the postseason and the guy in front of him has, so he deserves the Opening Day start more than Kershaw does.
Of course, Kershaw gave up the game-tying home run to Juan Soto in the NLDS after surrendering a homer to the batter before that, Anthony Rendon.
That is the moment for me that made him the #2 starter. Being the Opening Day starter is something that should mean something, and should go to the best starter on the roster–and it is Walker Buehler.
Walker Buehler deserves to start Opening Day. Not only did he make his first All-Star appearance in 2019, but he pitched 182.1 innings in the regular season and averaged over 10 strikeouts per start.
In the two games he started vs the Nationals in the NLDS, he combined for 12 2/3 innings, allowing just 1 earned run with 15 strikeouts.
He gave his club a chance to win in both of those starts, and he was the one that gave Kershaw a lead in the decisive Game 5–and we all know what happened.
Walker Buehler does what an ace should do: consistently give their team the opportunity to win and ‘show up’ in the biggest games.