Dodgers’ Clayton Kershaw named NL pitcher of the month, again

Can awards seem almost routine? With Clayton Kershaw, it’s looking that way.

Kershaw has been named the National League’s pitcher of the month. Again.

Safe to say he’s on a roll. He was also the NL pitcher of the month for June. It’s the fourth overall monthly honor for Kershaw, 26, in his six-year career.

In five July starts (three complete games), Kershaw went 4-0 with a 1.07 ERA, allowing five earned runs in a league-best 42 innings. All of his numbers were pretty crazy: He also struck out 43 and walked four, and held opponents to a .165 batting average.

He also finished off a 41-inning scoreless streak started in June. Overall he has won 10 consecutive decisions and is 13-2 with a major-league best 1.71 ERA.

Kershaw is the first Dodger to win back-to-back pitcher of the month honors since Don Sutton in 1975. [Update at 7 p.m.:] The Dodgers said Burt Hooton also went back-to-back in 1975.

Matt Kemp was also named the NL player of the week. Kemp had five home runs and nine RBI last week.