Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw (22) reacts at the end of the sixth inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at Dodger Stadium. Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Clayton Kershaw is still his Hall-of-Fame self

By Matthew Brown | Last updated 9/29/22

When Clayton Kershaw entered free agency for the first time in his career last year, there was a bit of uncertainty about what he would do.

Did he want to sign with the Texas Rangers and stay close to home? Did he want to return to the Los Angeles Dodgers, the only franchise he’s ever known, and have another chance of winning a World Series? Was he even going to play still?

Kershaw put an end to all those discussions after signing a 1-year, $17 million contract with the Dodgers. Kershaw said that the chance to win another championship is what kept him in Los Angeles, according to Dodgers beat reporter Fabian Ardaya.

Clayton Kershaw said his decision came down to the Dodgers and the Rangers. Said his choice was about winning a World Series this year, and the decision was solidified during the lockout. Called Rangers GM Chris Young the day the lockout was lifted.
— Fabian Ardaya (@FabianArdaya) March 13, 2022

Even at 34 years old, Kershaw proves he still has elite stuff. In his first start this year, he pitched seven perfect innings against the Minnesota Twins before being pulled by manager Dave Roberts. On April 30 against the Detroit Tigers, Kershaw struck out his 2,697th batter, becoming the Dodgers franchise leader in strikeouts.

Strikeout No. 2,697 for Clayton Kershaw.

Franchise record.

@MLB pic.twitter.com/oSiFB3cUyc
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) May 1, 2022

On Aug. 5, the Dodgers announced they had placed Kershaw on the injured list with lower back pain. It was a tough pill to swallow, especially with co-ace Walker Buhler out for two months at that point and about to undergo his second Tommy John surgery.

With the division almost locked up at that point, the Dodgers could afford to rest Kershaw for as long as he needed and not rush him back. Kershaw came back on Sept. 1 and it is hard to fathom how great he is performing.

In five starts since coming back from the IL, the 3-time Cy Young winner has made 5 starts and boasts a 1.80 ERA in 30 innings pitched. He has struck out 36 batters over that span and only walked 5 (with 3 of them coming in the first inning of his first start back). Batters are only slashing .191/.266/.264 against him during this streak.

Kershaw's 2.42. ERA and 0.95 WHIP on the season would both rank top seven in MLB if he had enough innings to qualify. Those would be his best stats in a full season since 2017. It is obvious that he still has a lot of good baseball left to play, which has made him lean towards playing next year.

Kershaw at this point of the season is essentially getting ready for to postseason, both his and the team’s tenth straight year in the dance. As the Dodgers have for the past decade, they are going to rely on Kershaw to be a centerpiece of that rotation come October.

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