LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 02: Zack Greinke #21 of the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrates a 2-1 complete game win by Clayton Kershaw #22 over the San Francisco Giants at Dodger Stadium on September 2, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
The Los Angeles Dodgers may have a cozy 8-1/2 game lead in the NL West as the season reaches its home stretch, but ace Clayton Kershaw knows he and his teammates can't ease up, for a variety of reasons.
After Kershaw led the Dodgers to a 6-4 victory over the Angels on Tuesday, Los Angeles holds an 8-1/2 game lead in the NL West with 23 games remaining in the season.
While the 27-year-old left-hander was impressed with his team's performance in the game, he thinks it's premature for the Dodgers to sit back and admire their regular-season run and turn their attention towards the postseason.
"Just got to keep the foot on the gas," Kershaw said. "You can't really let up, even if we do clinch. We've got home-field advantage to fight for. Just keep going until October-whatever, the season ends and then start it all up again."
The Dodgers entered Wednesday's game with a magic number of 16.
"We'd like to do it as soon as possible," Kershaw said of winning the West. "That's always the goal."
(h/t Los Angeles Times)
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