Despite a recent trend that has seen more and more teams adopt them, Clayton Kershaw says he doesn't really believe in defensive shifts.

Defensive shifts have increased from around 2,400 in 2010 to 18,000 in 2015.

"I think just mentally for me I can live with a hard-hit ball getting through a hole as opposed to a soft, cheap ground ball that goes through because no one is playing there because of a shift," Kershaw told the Orange County Register.

"Mentally, it's just easier for me to swallow. You start making excuses in your head like, 'Ah, I made my pitch.' You just don't want to have that in the back of your mind. At least I don't."

Dave Roberts has said that defensive shifts will be a big part of his first season with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

"So if he's not comfortable -- especially a pitcher as accomplished as Clayton is -- you've gotta have the buy-in. If he's not comfortable and doesn't trust what we're doing behind him, then it doesn't work," Roberts said. "Certain guys that we might shift for a certain pitcher ... we might not with Clayton if he doesn't feel comfortable with it. I just don't think it's the manager's call or the coaches' call if a certain accomplished pitcher doesn't feel comfortable."