DENVER — Los Angeles Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw made significant strides towards a major career milestone on Thursday, striking out five batters over six innings as the Dodgers defeated the Colorado Rockies 3-1.
Kershaw, a left-hander, now totals 2,997 career strikeouts, placing him just three away from the illustrious 3,000-mark achieved by only 19 other players in major league history.
This achievement would solidify him as the third active pitcher to accomplish this feat, joining the ranks of Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer. Verlander has accumulated an impressive 3,468 strikeouts throughout his two-decade-long career, while Scherzer has claimed 3,412 strikeouts over 18 seasons.
Kershaw reflected on his performance in Colorado, stating, “I was aware I needed eight more. Colorado is a tough place to achieve that. I had a good outing, managed to get through six innings, and reaching three more strikeouts at Dodger Stadium would be truly special.”
Dodgers Manager Dave Roberts praised Kershaw’s recent outings, noting, “He’s been competing well and improving with each game. Despite not always having his best stuff, he consistently finds ways to be effective.”
During Thursday’s game, Kershaw secured three strikeouts in the initial two innings, added another in the fifth, and notched his fifth by retiring Tyler Freeman in the sixth inning before exiting the game.
After throwing a total of 69 pitches with 41 landing as strikes, Kershaw emphasized the importance of efficiency, saying, “Being efficient is always key. My days of extending to 115 pitches might be behind me, so completing six innings, especially at Coors Field, is vital.”
Kershaw’s strategic pitch mix included utilizing a 73 mph curveball to deliver two strikeouts and a slider to achieve three more against a predominately right-handed Rockies lineup, demonstrating his adaptability on the mound.
The three-time National League Cy Young Award winner and ten-time All-Star drew appreciative applause from the crowd at Coors Field, who gave him a standing ovation as he left the field at the end of the sixth inning.
Following his return from the injured list in May after undergoing knee and foot surgeries in the offseason, Kershaw has started eight games this season.
“He’s been a crucial addition for us,” Roberts explained. “Given our current situation with some injuries among our starters, his performance and the energy he brings on game day are invaluable to the team.”
Having clinched his fourth consecutive victory, Kershaw also managed to lower his ERA to a season-best 3.03.
Home Dodgers' Kershaw inches toward 3,000 strikeouts mark