Clayton Kershaw: What Career Milestones Can the Dodgers Ace Hit Next Season?
In 2023, Clayton Kershaw will be entering his 16th season with the Dodgers and will be as critical as ever to the club’s plan as it hunts down a second world title in four years. While fans that have seen Kershaw over his career know he’s not one to care much about personal stats and career accolades, this season could see the future Hall of Famer reach and surpass some impressive numbers on the back of his baseball card.
Here are some possibilities to keep an eye on:
400 Starts. Current: 398
This seems the most likely of the bunch as Kershaw needs just two more starts to eclipse 400 career starts. In 2022, he did surpass the 400 appearances mark thanks to three career regular season relief appearances, but the 400 start plateau is a pretty cool mark. Notably, Kersh would be just the 139th pitcher to make 400 or more starts.
Unless a serious injury comes his way, we like the chances for Kershaw on this one.
Clayton Kershaw’s career 2.48 ERA is the lowest out of all qualified SPs in the past 75 years
— Josh Thomas (@jokeylocomotive) November 11, 2022
Through 398 starts so far, Kershaw has a career ERA of 2.48 and is coming off a 2.28 ERA in 2022.
200 Wins; 210 Wins. Current: 197
This is perhaps the most exciting one on this list, and also one that we don’t see him missing, but crazier things have happened. Last season Kershaw finished with a 12-3 record in 22 starts and has never won fewer than five games in a season in his career.
However, the number to keep an eye on is 210 wins as that will move Kershaw to second on the all-time Dodgers wins leaderboard (Don Drysdale sits at 209). Can Kershaw eclipse a 13 win season for the ninth time in his career?
Hall of Famer Don Sutton won 233 of his 324 games in Dodger blue.
10th All-Star Appearance
Kershaw should have another strong season and it remains evident Kershaw was recognized as one of the best in the game in his ninth All-Star appearance in 2022. However, Kershaw has not reached a back-to-back All-Star season since 2016 and 2017.
Perhaps a farewell tour can bring Kershaw to the 10th All-Star game of his career?
3000 Career Strikeouts
Probably the steepest expectation of the possible achievements as Kershaw currently sits at 2807 strikeouts. Kershaw has averaged just about 187 strikeouts a season for his career but reached just 137 Ks over 22 starts in 2022.
2022 PitchingNinja Award for the Lowest Pitch for a Strikeout. ?
Winner: Clayton Kershaw pic.twitter.com/9HO3uyMDPv
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) November 11, 2022
Kershaw needs 193 strikeouts to eclipse the 3000 mark. Kershaw has eclipsed 200 strikeouts in a season seven times in his career.
There are plenty of reasons for Dodgers fans to be excited as Clayton Kershaw is set to return for at least one more season in blue.
The future Hall of Fame career of Kershaw is everything you can ask for in a franchise like the Dodgers. The ultimate goal is for Kershaw to earn his second World Series championship, but what other accolades will Kershaw cross before the end of the season?
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