The 37-year-old ace recorded his 3,000th career strikeout against the Chicago White Sox, becoming just the 20th pitcher in Major League Baseball history to reach the milestone. In the sixth inning, Kershaw froze Vinny Capra with an 85-mph slider on the black for the third strike — a signature moment in a Hall of Fame career.
By Earl Heath | Contributing Sports Writer
It was a rocky week for the Los Angeles Dodgers, but amid the struggles, Clayton Kershaw delivered a historic moment.
The 37-year-old ace recorded his 3,000th career strikeout against the Chicago White Sox, becoming just the 20th pitcher in Major League Baseball history to reach the milestone. In the sixth inning, Kershaw froze Vinny Capra with an 85-mph slider on the black for the third strike — a signature moment in a Hall of Fame career.
The Dodgers edged out the White Sox 5-4 in that game. Kershaw now joins a short list of active pitchers with 3,000 strikeouts, alongside Justin Verlander (42) and Max Scherzer (40).
Offensive Woes and a Sweep by Houston
Despite the milestone, the Dodgers are in the middle of a rough stretch. They dropped five straight games (as of press time), averaging fewer than two runs per game. That skid included a three-game sweep by the Houston Astros, during which the Dodgers managed just six total runs.
Injuries to key bats like Max Muncy and Teoscar Hernández have exposed the team’s vulnerability at the plate.
Ohtani Goes Deep — Again
One of the few bright spots during this stretch was Shohei Ohtani. In Milwaukee, facing flame-throwing rookie Jacob Misiorowski, Ohtani crushed an 88-mph curveball 431 feet for his 31st home run of the season. The solo shot came on an 0-2 count and set a new franchise record for home runs before the All-Star break.
Ohtani surpassed Cody Bellinger’s previous mark of 30, set during his 2019 MVP season. The two-way superstar has played in 91 of the Dodgers’ 93 games so far and is on pace for 54 home runs — matching his 2024 total, which broke Shawn Green’s single-season record of 49 set in 2001.
Pitching Carousel Continues
Injuries and inconsistency have also taken a toll on the pitching staff. With the recent call-up of right-hander Alexis Díaz, the Dodgers have now used 35 different pitchers this season — including two infielders who’ve combined for more than 10 innings in mop-up duty.
The constant rotation reflects the challenges of a long season, as well as the team’s scramble to plug gaps in the bullpen and rotation.
Kershaw’s Return Bolsters Rotation
Still, Kershaw’s return has been a welcome sight. He’s posted a 4-1 record since coming off the injured list, and the offense has backed him with six or more runs in each of his nine starts.
Even in a turbulent stretch, the veteran continues to lead by example.