Clayton Kershaw Approaches Milestone As He Dominates Guardians

LOS ANGELES, CA — Clayton Kershaw of the Los Angeles Dodgers is nearing a career milestone as he approaches his 3,000th career strikeout. During his third start of the season on Wednesday, Kershaw struck out three batters from the Cleveland Guardians, bringing his total to 2,974.

Kershaw, who holds a career earned run average (ERA) of 2.51, joins an elite group of pitchers. The only pitcher with more career strikeouts and a better ERA is Walter Johnson, who last pitched in 1927. Johnson recorded 3,509 strikeouts with a 2.17 ERA.

In a recent biography by Andy McCullough, Kershaw revealed his true feelings about reaching the 3,000-strikeout mark. “Yeah, I’d be lying if I didn’t want to do it,” Kershaw said. “But I think the coolest part is the company you get to be a part of.”

At 37 years old, Kershaw is part of an elite group along with Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer, both of whom have surpassed the 3,000-strikeout milestone. However, Kershaw has faced challenges, coming off knee and toe surgeries last season.

The three pitchers are known for their durability, each recording over 200 victories in their careers. Kershaw has achieved 212 wins, whereas Verlander holds 262 and Scherzer has 216. Kershaw expressed concern about the shift in pitching performance, stating, “I hope starting pitching has a resurgence.”

The current generation of pitchers struggles with endurance, as no pitcher with limited experience has reached 300 career wins since 1988. “Unless you’re like the few guys like (Tarik) Skubal or Zack Wheeler, it’s just hard,” Kershaw commented.

Kershaw’s dedication to the game transcends individual accolades as he emphasizes the importance of transitioning back to more innings pitched by starters. “It’s good for a lot of things,” he said. “If I get there, I want to be in that group, too.”

As the Dodgers look forward to Kershaw’s potential milestone, the challenge remains for pitching’s future in Major League Baseball.