LOS ANGELES – Clayton Kershaw is close to joining an exclusive club as the Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher gets ready for his scheduled start against the Chicago White Sox at Dodger Stadium on Wednesday, July 2.
The 37-year-old left-hander enters the game needing just three strikeouts to become the 20th pitcher in baseball history to strike out 3,000 batters.
On May 25, 2008, he struck out his first batter as a 20-year-old rookie making his major-league debut with the Dodgers. The strikeouts began to pile up as his 18-year career has unfolded.
‘It’s the last box for Clayton to check in his tremendous career,’ Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said before the game. ‘To be able to potentially do it at home in front of our fans, I think we’re all looking forward to that.’
Kershaw led the National League in strikeouts three times – 2011, 2013 and 2015 – and recorded a career-high 301 in 2015.
Kershaw has tormented batters with his slider and curveball and throws a four-seam fastball that registered as fast as 96 mph. Of course, he has done far more than amass strikeouts.
Before the game Wednesday, he had a record of 216-94 and a career ERA of 2.51. He is considered a shoo-in for the Hall of Fame and will become eligible five years after he retires.
How to watch Dodgers vs. White Sox: Time, TV channel, stream
Time: 10:10 p.m. ET
TV channel: MLB Network
Live stream:Fubo, MLB.TV
Watch on Fubo
Is Clayton Kershaw the greatest Dodgers pitcher ever?
Before the game, Roberts was asked if Kershaw is the greatest pitcher in Dodgers history. In other words: is Kershaw better than Dodgers pitching legends Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale?
“That’s a tough one,’ Roberts said, indicating he had not compared the three pitchers’ accomplishments. But then he referenced Kershaw’s 18-year career.
“It’s hard to not say Clayton is the greatest Dodger (pitcher) of all time, as far as you’re talking about body of work. … Yeah, he’s a unicorn.’
Clayton Kershaw’s first strikeout victim remembers debut
The Cardinals didn’t have any tape of the 20-year-old kid who was going to make his major-league debut on May 25, 2008. No one had any scouting reports. No one faced him in the minors. So, they began asking each other if anyone knew anything about the Dodgers’ prized prospect.
Skip Schumaker was leading off for the Cardinals and stepped to the plate with a game plan.
“I figured I was going to ambush him and welcome him to the big leagues,’ Schumaker told USA TODAY Sports. “The first pitch was an elevated fastball. It was harder and faster than I thought, and I swung and missed. Then he threw a curveball. It was something different. It was like nothing I had ever seen before.
“And then, well, I struck out.’
Schumaker finished his career 0-for-7 against Kershaw with six strikeouts – and grounded into a double play.
“Clayton Kershaw,’ Schumaker says, “is the most dominant pitcher I’ve ever played against in my career. I’ve never seen anybody like him.”
– Bob Nightengale
How many strikeouts does Clayton Kershaw have?
Kershaw enters his start on July 2 with 2,997 career strikeouts – in 2,781 ⅓ innings.
White Sox lineup vs. Kershaw
Chase Meidroth (R) SS
Austin Slater (R) LF
Miguel Vargas (R) 1B
Andrew Benintendi (L) DH
Edgar Quero (S) C
Lenyn Sosa (R) 2B
Mike Tauchman (L) RF
Michael A. Taylor (R) CF
Vinny Capra (R) 3B
Dodgers lineup tonight
Shohei Ohtani (L) DH
Mookie Betts (R) SS
Will Smith (R) C
Freddie Freeman (L) 1B
Andy Pages (R) RF
Max Muncy (L) 3B
Michael Conforto (L) LF
Tommy Edman (S) CF
Hyeseong Kim (L) 2B
