Clayton Kershaw is a modest 13-9 this season, but the Dodgers are pumping him as a Cy Young candidate once again.

A.J. Ellis, Kershaw's catcher, doesn't believe his mediocre record should be held against him.

"It didn't hurt Felix Hernandez a few years ago," Ellis said, pointing to how the Seattle ace won the award in the American League in 2010 with a 13-12 record.

Kershaw's all-around statistics are barely down from his Cy Young Award season last year.

"The numbers speak for themselves," Ellis said. "It's really hard for starting pitchers to control wins and losses. All you can do is go out there and give your team in the best chance to win the game. I think having the lowest ERA in the National League does that. Our inability to score runs, especially when he pitches, may at the end of the day cost him."