Redemption, a Series of Unfortunate World Series’
After the heartbreaking loss to eventual 2016 World Series champions, Chicago Cubs, Clayton Kershaw came into 2017 more determined, more hungry. The Claw started his seventh opening day in a row, tying Don Sutton for most consecutive opening day starts as a Dodger.
He was selected to his seventh-straight All-Star game. He recorded his 2,000th career strikeout when he retired Milwaukee Brewers’ Jonathan Villar. And once again, he led the National League in ERA and wins, despite missing over a month due to late-season back issues.
The Dodgers would make the playoffs, once again, facing the Arizona Diamondbacks in the NLDS. He started Game 1 and the series and gave up four solo home runs in 6.3 innings but still picked up the win. After de-venoming the D’Backs, Kershaw faced the team that ended L.A.’s playoff run in 2016, the Cubs, in the NLCS. He started two games, winning both and sending his team to the World Series to face those dirty cheaters, the Houston Astros. *The Astros would be investigated in a sign-stealing scandal
Kershaw started Game 1, striking out 11 batters and securing the win. He allowed four hits and gave up six runs in a Game 5 loss. He would get another opportunity to pitch, coming out of the bullpen in Game 7, pitching four scoreless innings, but the Astros still secured the 5-1 victory and their first World Series title.
Coming off the disappointment of the World Series loss, Kershaw made his eighth consecutive opening day start in 2018, surpassing Sutton and Don Drysdale for the most total opening day starts in franchise history; he suffered his first opening day loss of his career to the San Francisco Giants, 1-0.
He missed some time due to tendonitis in his left biceps. Upon his return to the mound, his achy back came back and forced him to the DL. The Claw finished with his fewest strikeouts (155 K’s) since his rookie campaign and his lowest win total (nine) and highest ERA (2.73) since 2010.
In the 2018 playoffs, Kershaw started Game 2 of the NLDS against the Braves. He pitched eight scoreless innings and allowed just two hits. He struggled in the opening game of the NLCS against the Brewers, giving up five runs in four innings. In Game 5, he redeemed himself, pitching seven innings, allowing just one run on three hits, while punching out nine batters. At the plate, he walked twice in the Dodgers’ win. Los Angeles would win the series in seven games and reach the World Series for the second year in a row…
Kershaw would struggle in two games against the Boston Red Sox. In Game 1, he allowed five runs in four innings pitched in an 8-4 defeat. He would toe the rubber again in Game 5, as he pitched seven innings, giving up three home runs in a 5-1 loss. The Dodgers fell short in their second-straight World Series, as the Sox took the title, 4-1.
A spring training shoulder injury in 2019 ended Kershaw’s streak of opening day starts. On Aug 14, he struck out the first seven Miami Marlins he faced and tallied his 165th career win versus the Marlins, tying Sandy Koufax with the most victories by a Dodgers southpaw pitcher.
In a game against the Toronto Blue Jays, despite giving up two homers to rookie shortstop Bo Bichette, Kershaw passed Koufax with his 166th career victory. He finished the 2019 season with a 16-5 record, 189 K’s, and a .303 ERA. In the NLDS, he pitched six innings in Game 2 against the Nationals, giving up three runs in a 4-2 loss. In Game 5 relief duty, he gave up back-to-back dingers in a 7-3 loss.
A Whole New World of a Series
2020 is most remembered for the Covid-19 pandemic, but Dodgers fans might remember it for another reason… Kershaw was scheduled to pitch on opening day, but once again started the season on the Disabled List. On August 20th, in a game against the Seattle Mariners, Kershaw moved to second place on the Dodgers’ strikeout list, passing Don Drysdale. He only started ten games, with a 6-2 record, 62 strikeouts, and a 2.16 ERA.
Kershaw drew the short straw and started Game 2 of the Wild Card Series, pitching eight scoreless innings with 13 strikeouts against the Brewers. He would again pitch the second game of the NLDS against the San Diego Padres, giving up three runs, with six strikeouts in six innings.
The Atlanta Braves were next on the docket. Back spasms caused him to miss his Game 2 start; instead, he pitched five innings in a Game 4 loss, costing the Dodgers their first loss of the 2020 postseason. Los Angeles would win the series in seven games and advance to face the Tampa Bay Rays in the World Series.
The Claw would start Game 1 of the Series, where he would strike out eight, allowing just one run in six innings. The Dodgers would call for number 22 again in Game 5. He pitched 5 2/3 innings, whiffing five batters and giving up two runs off five hits. Los Angeles would defeat Tampa Bay in six games, making Kershaw a World Series champion for the first time…
Kershaw Down and Out on the D.L.
Following the mountain top-high of his storied career, the slide down the mountain sure wouldn’t be easy. Kershaw spent parts of each of the next five seasons on the Disabled List with a variety of injuries. Despite his ailments, the Claw still laid down the law. He would pass Don Sutton to become the Dodgers’ all-time strikeout king on April 30, 2022. He was named to three more All-Star games, starting the mid-summer classic in 2022 when the game was held in L.A. On April 18, 2023, he would win his 200th game, defeating the Mets.
In 2024, Kershaw had career lows, with 30 innings pitched in seven starts, a 2-2 record, and a 4.50 ERA. While his Dodger teammates were off beating the New York Yankees in the World Series, he was sidelined with a smorgasbord of injuries. Though he was part of the team, he isn’t recognized as a champion in 2024, due to being left off of Los Angeles’ postseason roster. Kinda bogus, if you ask me… so as far as I am concerned, he’s a champion too.
The Dodgers re-signed Kershaw to a one-year deal in 2025. He would begin the season where he left off the last one, on the D.L. On July 2nd, he recorded his 3,000th career strikeout against Chicago White Sox infielder Vinny Capra. MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred selected Kershaw for his 11th All-Star Game. On September 18th, he announced that he would retire after the season.
On the last day of the season, he made his final start against the Seattle Mariners, striking out seven in 5.3 scoreless innings. He showed that he still had some gas in the tank. His final strikeout came at the expense of Eugenio Suarez, finishing his career with 3,052 strikeouts.
Last Hurrah, World Series
This season, Kershaw was healthy enough to register an 11-2 record, 84 strikeouts, and a 3.36 ERA in 23 mound appearances. The Dodgers were clicking on all cylinders and battled their way to a World Series matchup with the Toronto Blue Jays.
In an epic 18-inning Game 3, Kersh entered the game in the bottom of the 12th inning. The game was knotted at 5-5 when he pitched the Dodgers out of a two-out bases-loaded jam. Los Angeles eventually won the game on the wings of a Freddie Freeman walk-off homer in the 18th inning.
The Series would go to seven games… another fall classic, L.A. trailed the entire game until Dodgers second baseman Miguel Rojas hit a solo home run to tie the game in the 9th inning. In the 11th inning, Los Angeles catcher Will Smith would smash a game-winning bomb of his own over the left field wall.
The game ended with bases loaded full of Blue Jays and Kershaw warming up in the bullpen, while Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto coaxed Jays catcher Alejandro Kirk into a double play, ending the game. The Dodgers were back-to-back champions, and Kershaw retired as a three-time champion.
Now that the tumbleweeds have passed and the dust has cleared, Kershaw rides his horse back home to Texas. He will settle down with his wife, Ellen, and their four (soon to be five) children and enjoy his retirement. He will get back in the saddle soon enough as Cooperstown calls his name…
