Phillies’ Orion Kerkering trying to ‘build off of a bad memory’ as he returns to Dodger Stadium
This might be his first visit to Dodger Stadium since his error in Game 4 of the NLDS last season, but Kerkering certainly doesn’t plan on it being the last.
LOS ANGELES — When the Phillies arrive at Dodger Stadium on Friday, plenty of memories from last October are sure to resurface.
For Orion Kerkering, it’s unavoidable. It will be his first time back since the National League Division Series, when Kerkering flung a softly-hit bases loaded grounder over catcher J.T. Realmuto’s head at home instead of making the routine play at first.
While it was not the only reason the Phillies lost to the Dodgers last year, as the final play of the 11-inning Game 4, it remains one of the lasting moments of another postseason failure.
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Kerkering has faced the error head on. He has never shied away from talking about it. But he also never wanted it to define him.
This might be his first visit to Dodger Stadium since it happened, but he certainly doesn’t plan on it being the last.
“I’m hoping to play 10 more years after this or so, hopefully,” said Kerkering, 25. “I think every time you go there, it’s a new memory, no matter what. Good, bad, or different. That one’s probably obviously the biggest one, but you give up homers at different stadiums.
“Just trying to build off of a bad memory. Put that foundation down, for sure.”
Kerkering said he hasn’t dwelled too much on the upcoming Dodgers series. He’s treating it like any other road trip, and was able to spend time with family he has in the area on Thursday’s off day.
“I’m just going in there like it’s another game, not really try to overthink it, and just go after guys while I’m there,” Kerkering said. “Not think about the past, not think about anything. Because I think I’ve been doing that all year. I think it’s just another stadium to go to.”
It helps that his confidence is high right now with how he’s been performing this season. Kerkering has a 2.21 ERA and has not allowed an earned run in his last three appearances.
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This season, he has four holds and one save. He’s holding opposing batters to a 20% hard-hit rate, which is bettered only by Padres closer Mason Miller (11.8%).
“He’s just been really good for us for a long time, especially this year,” Realmuto said. “He’s got so much confidence, he’s filling the zone up. His stuff is obviously elite.”
There’s a lot that’s different from the last time the Phillies were in Los Angeles. They have a new interim manager and new faces in the outfield and on the pitching staff. Even Kerkering himself has a new splitter that he developed this offseason.
He has thrown the pitch 18 times this season, and hasn’t surrendered a hit on it yet. It gives him another tool against left-handers, and having another pitch for hitters to plan for makes the rest of his arsenal play up, too.
Kerkering’s sweeper has always been his best pitch, but he’s also throwing his two-seam with more confidence. Hitters averaged .317 against Kerkering’s two-seam last season. This year, they’re hitting .154 against it.
Kerkering attributed that improvement to better location.
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“I think it just helps a lot if I’m just able to locate it in the zone, let hitters hit it. They hit it, great. If not, it is what it is,” Kerkering said. “They have to cheat to one, so if they can’t cheat to that one, that helps with the slider, too.”
Kerkering has been able to neutralize both righties (.178 batting average) and lefties (.200), which makes it difficult for teams to counter him through matchups.
In turn, that makes interim manager Don Mattingly’s life easier.
“He throws strikes, he’s quick to the plate, he’s gotten better at fielding his position, he’s not walking people,” Mattingly said. “He’s an easy guy to bring into the game.”
If Mattingly decides to call on Kerkering during this series, the pitcher will jog out to the mound and treat it like any other game. And each time he does, Kerkering will have an opportunity to make a new memory beside the old one.
And when it’s over, Dodger Stadium might no longer be where it all ended last October, but where something new began in May.
As the Phillies continue to seek more production out of the cleanup spot, Rhys Hoskins was back in town with the Cleveland Guardians. Hoskins sat down with "Phillies Extra," The Inquirer's baseball podcast, to discuss his role with the first-place Guardians, his legacy with the Phillies, and more. Watch here.
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