Dodgers’ Mr. Perfect, Clayton Kershaw, selected NL player of week

Why do you suspect items like this are somehow still only the beginning?

On Monday, Dodgers’ slugging left-hander Clayton Kershaw was selected the National League player of the week.

To nab this honor all he did was not give up a run in the 16 innings of his two starts, strike out 16 batters, give up six hits and one walk, pitch an opening-day shutout and hit a home run.

“He’s like the perfect player,” Dodgers second baseman Mark Ellis said. “He’s got talent, he works hard and he cares a lot. It’s hard to say anything bad about him.”

It’s the third such honor for Kershaw, who was player of the week once in each of his previous two seasons. Current Dodgers Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier each have been selected four times.

Of course, in 2011 Kershaw also won the NL Cy Young Award. He was second last season.

Not that he’s spoiling anyone, but he turned 25 last month.

ALSO:

Here’s the pitch: Dodgers’ bullpen has yet to allow a run

Adrian Gonzalez-Carl Crawford combo, Hyun-Jin Ryu lead 6-2 win

Aaron Harang deal not flashy, but removes one lingering question