MLB
How many strikeouts is Clayton Kershaw able to reach?
The future Major League Baseball Hall of Famer has put a positive spin on his final start for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Clayton Kershaw hasn’t had a good start to the season since returning from his shoulder injury on July 25 against the San Francisco Giants. In that start, the future MLB Hall of Famer pitched four innings, allowing 17 hits, one home run and striking out 11 batters.
Atypical numbers for a player of Clayton Kershaw’s career
In his next start against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park, Kershaw did not strike out a batter for the first time in his 17-year career. The left-handed pitcher ended a streak of 423 consecutive starts with at least one strikeout, not including the postseason.
Clayton Kershaw knows he has to improve if he wants to be part of the pitching rotation in the postseason. In his last start, the future Hall of Famer made adjustments and looked better on Tuesday against the Philadelphia Phillies.
Despite the Dodgers losing 6-2, Kershaw looked more solid, allowing just one earned run in 4.2 innings. The left-handed pitcher allowed five hits and recorded five strikeouts before being replaced by Joe Kelly.
His fastballs remained in the low 90s, but he showed better control and could throw more curveballs in his best game this season, which keeps the Dodgers optimistic.
“This guy is the biggest competitor I’ve ever been around,” Dodgers manager Roberts said. “He just forced himself to have a quality performance.” Clayton Kershaw is 45 strikeouts away from reaching the exclusive 3,000-strikeout club for his career.