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Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw (22) delivers a pitch in the fourth inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

Wild Clayton Kershaw stat continues in Coors Field master class

By Kevin Henry | Last updated Aug 21, 2025 7:11 PM ET

DENVER — In what could be his final start at Coors Field, Clayton Kershaw turned in a masterful performance on Thursday afternoon.

The future Hall of Famer limited the Colorado Rockies to three runs and six hits over 5.2 innings, helping the Los Angeles Dodgers earn a split of the four-game series in Denver.

Colorado was stymied by Kershaw until the sixth inning when the Rockies pieced together a two-out rally to chase him from the game. After getting two quick groundouts, the Rockies drew a pair of walks and slapped two base hits, including Brenton Doyle's RBI single that plated Colorado's third run against Kershaw.

"He was getting in good leverage counts against a lot of guys all day," Doyle said. "He was getting ahead early and working off that."

Not only did the 37-year-old southpaw show flashes of the form that helped make him a three-time National League Cy Young Award winner, but Kershaw also continued what has been an interesting statistical trend for him in recent seasons.

In his last nine day-game starts dating back to 2023, Kershaw now has a 2.00 ERA with 41 strikeouts. Also, in his last seven day-game starts away from Dodger Stadium, Kershaw is now 5-0 with a 1.74 ERA.

Clayton Kershaw, Cooperstown Curveball. pic.twitter.com/riaB30sez4
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) August 21, 2025

Kershaw's performance on Thursday was even more impressive considering what Colorado's offense has done since the All-Star break. Entering Thursday, The Rockies ranked third among MLB’s 30 teams in batting average (.272), fifth in slugging percentage (.452) and total bases (476) and sixth in OPS (.771) and extra-base hits (102) in the second half of the season.

"I should have gotten through six. Just can't walk that guy with two outs and nobody on," said Kershaw, who narrowly missed his fourth consecutive quality start. "But, when you look back at it, hopefully it's like six (innings) and two (runs) is what I was going for, and I would have taken that. So obviously a little frustrating way to end it, but Benny (Casparius) came in and got the job done."

Thursday was the second time this season Kershaw has come into Denver and dominated the Rockies during the day. On June 26, he gave up just one run in 6.0 innings as Colorado batters went 2-for-19 against him.

While Kershaw has been good in day games, he's been solid overall since being activated from the 60-day injured list on May 17 after undergoing left toe surgery. He holds a 1.90 ERA in August and a 2.72 mark since his second start of the season.

All quotations obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted.

Kevin Henry

A member of the Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWAA), Kevin Henry has been covering MLB and MiLB for nearly two decades. Those assignments have included All-Star Games and the MLB postseason, including the World Series. Based in the Denver area, Kevin calls Coors Field his home base, but travels throughout North America during the season to discover the best stories possible

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