The Dodgers’ Clayton Kershaw’s road to 3,000 strikeouts started in his very first game, when he struck out Skip Schumaker of the St. Louis Cardinals on May 25, 2008. His illustrious career reached another peak in 2015 when he became one of only 19 pitchers in baseball history to reach 300 strikeouts in a season.
(Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)
Clayton Kershaw made his major league debut and pitched six innings against the St. Louis Cardinals at Dodger Stadium on May 25, 2008, striking out seven.
(Wilfredo Lee / Associated Press)
Clayton Kershaw delivers a pitch during the first inning against the Marlins on May 17, 2009, in Miami. Kershaw struck out nine in seven innings.
Chris Carlson / Associated Press Chris Carlson / Associated Press
Kershaw celebrates his no-hitter with his teammates against the Rockies on June 18, 2014. Kershaw struck out a career-high 15 batters.
(Mark J. Terrill / Associated Press)
Clayton Kershaw tips his cap to fans after being taken out in the fourth inning against the Padres on Oct. 4, 2015. Kershaw reached 300 strikeouts in a season during the third inning.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
Clayton Kershaw drops to the ground after giving up a home run to the Cubs’ Anthony Rizzo in the fifth inning of Game 6 of the NLCS at Wrigley Field on Oct. 22, 2016.
Clayton Kershaw comes into the game for a relief appearance against the Astros in Game 7 of the World Series at Dodger Stadium on November 1, 2017 Wally Skalij / Los Angeles TimesClayton Kershaw (22) throws a strike against Astros second baseman Jose Altuve (27) in the fourth inning of Game 1 of the World Series at Dodger Stadium on October 24, 2017. Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles TimesClayton Kershaw strikes out Yuli Gurriel to end the third inning for the Astros in Game 7 of the World Series at Dodger Stadium on November 1, 2017. Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)Dodger fans cheer as pitcher Clayton Kershaw gets a strikeout against the Astros in the first inning in Game 1 of the World Series at Dodger Stadium on October 24, 2017. Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times
Kershaw wasn’t able to lift the Dodgers past the Astros in the 2017 World Series. It was later discovered the Astros were cheating.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
Clayton Kershaw celebrates after striking out the Washington Nationals’ Adam Eaton in relief to end the seventh inning in Game 5 of the NLDS at Dodger Stadium on Oct. 9, 2019.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
(Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)
Clayton Kershaw throws a pitch against the Tampa Bay Rays in the sixth inning in Game 5 of the World Series at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, on Oct. 25, 2020.
(Luke Johnson / Los Angeles Times)
Clayton Kershaw throws a strike to the White Sox’s Vinny Capra for his 3,000th strikeout during the sixth inning at Dodger Stadium on Wednesday night.
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