Clayton Kershaw turned back the clock with a vintage performance during the Los Angeles Dodgers’ 11-5 win over the San Francisco Giants on Saturday, June 14. The veteran lefty allowed three hits and a walk while striking out five across seven scoreless innings.
With this performance, Kershaw is now within striking distance of Giants pitcher Justin Verlander’s WAR record despite pitching nearly 700 fewer innings.
Clayton Kershaw Narrows WAR Gap With Justin Verlander Despite 700 Fewer Innings Pitched
Saturday night’s seven-inning shutout pushed Kershaw’s career WAR to 76.8, closing in on Verlander’s 81.0 WAR record.
Verlander reached his mark of over 3,467 2/3 innings. Kershaw got to 76.8 WAR in just under 2,770 1/3 innings, almost 700 fewer than his longtime rival.
Career WAR rankings for pitchers, after Clayton Kershaw’s seven scoreless innings last night:
1. Cy Young 165.6
25. Bob Gibson 81.7
26. Justin Verlander 81.0
27. Curt Schilling 80.5
28. Kershaw 76.8— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) June 15, 2025
WAR, wins above replacement, measures how much better a player is than a typical bench or minor-league replacement. A higher number means a bigger impact. Kershaw’s 76.8 WAR means he’s helped the Dodgers win nearly 77 more games than a replacement-level pitcher would have.
Why Closing the WAR Gap Matters for Clayton Kershaw
Closing in on Verlander’s 81.0 WAR in almost 700 fewer innings shows Kershaw’s efficiency over his career. The Dodgers veteran has packed a lot of value into fewer pitches, and he’s done it consistently.
For some perspective, Hall of Famer Cy Young leads all pitchers with 165.6 WAR, but he threw over 7,300 innings. Kershaw’s total is closer to 2,800, barely a third of that. In Young’s time, pitchers threw more innings each year, giving them a natural WAR boost that’s tough to match in today’s game.
Modern baseball puts a premium on data and player health. Pitch counts are monitored, rotations are managed, and long outings are rare. That makes Kershaw’s WAR all the more impressive.
What’s Next for Clayton Kershaw and the Dodgers?
Kershaw’s next start could come during the Dodgers’ three-game series at Coors Field against the Colorado Rockies from June 24 to 26. The 37-year-old has a 1.90 ERA over his last five starts and is closing in on 3,000 career strikeouts.
What an outing from Clayton Kershaw 👏
He’s now just 12 Ks shy of joining the 3,000 strikeout club! pic.twitter.com/xGddUxcRWp
— MLB (@MLB) June 15, 2025
The Dodgers lead the NL West but are closely followed by the Giants, who are one game behind, and the San Diego Padres, who are three games back. Their rotation has been plagued by injuries, resulting in a 4.19 ERA that ranks 22nd in the league.