Clayton Kershaw is on the verge of history. He is eight strikeouts away from his 3,000th strikeout of his career. He would be the 20th player in MLB history to achieve this feat and the first since Max Scherzer in 2021, when he accomplished it while playing for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Manager Dave Roberts confessed his stance on Kershaw’s accomplishment. There was some question as to whether he would leave him in the game if he were on the verge, but Roberts tipped his hand as to what he might do.
Clayton Kershaw Is on the Verge of 3,000 Career Strikeouts
Dave Roberts may pull Kershaw before he gets his 3,000th strikeout, but it is for a good reason. Kershaw is in his 18th season as a professional, all of which have been with the Dodgers.
“Actually, I would argue there might be a temptation to take him out and let him go for it in front of the home fans,” Roberts said when asked if there was a temptation to leave him in toward the end of his outing if he was close.
If Clayton Kershaw is at seven strikeouts towards the end of his outing, might there be some temptation for Dave Roberts to leave him in for No. 3,000?
Roberts: “Actually I would argue there might be a temptation to take him out and let him go for it in front of the home fans.”
— Fabian Ardaya (@FabianArdaya) June 26, 2025
Kershaw’s next expected start is against the Chicago White Sox at home on Wednesday, July 2. The game should air on MLB Network. Judging by Roberts’ statement, Kershaw will unlikely achieve the feat on the road against the Rockies.
Kershaw has won the Cy Young Award three times in his career, in 2011, 2013 and 2014. He also won the MVP Award in 2014. He is one of 12 pitchers since the advent of the Cy Young Award in 1956 to have been named MVP. 2014 was the season in which he established himself as, arguably, the greatest pitcher of his generation. He went 21-3 with a 1.77 ERA, which both led the league. Kershaw also tossed a league-leading six complete games, including two shutouts.
He won the Triple Crown in 2011, leading the league in wins (21-5), ERA (2.28), and strikeouts (248). He also led the league in strikeouts in two other seasons, 2013 and 2015. He struck out 301 batters in 2015 in 232.5 innings pitched. He placed third in Cy Young voting and 10th in MVP voting that season.
Only 12 pitchers have reached the 3,000 milestone with less than 5,000 innings pitched, which is becoming unattainable in the modern game. Kershaw may be the only player for a while to complete this milestone and should do it in front of the home crowd of the team he has pitched his entire career for.