Dodgers' Clayton Kershaw wins his 20th game

Two things have gone right for the Dodgers in what has basically been a lost season: pitcher Clayton Kershaw and centerfielder Matt Kemp have turned the corner and become elite young stars. Tonight, Kershaw picked up his 20th victory of the season over the Giants and their ace, Tim Lincecum. Kershaw is now 20-5 for a team that is one win better than even, basically meaning the rest of the pitchers are 15 games underwater. Kershaw leads the league in ERA (2.27) and strikeouts and might win the Cy Young Award vote as the league's most valued pitcher.

The Dodgers, by the way, are 12-6 in September and have been winning at almost that pace since August 1. Too bad the early season was so mediocre.

Noted: Former Dodgers executive Derrick Hall, now CEO of the Arizona Diamondbacks, announced that he has prostate cancer.