Dodgers left-hander Kershaw strikes out 5, moves closer to 3,000 career strikeouts
Associated Press
DENVER (AP) — Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander Clayton Kershaw inched closer to 3,000 career strikeouts on Thursday, fanning five in six innings in a 3-1 victory over the Colorado Rockies.
Kershaw (4-0) has 2,997 strikeouts in his 18-year career, three short of becoming the 20th major leaguer to reach the milestone.
The 37-year-old would be the third active pitcher to reach the mark behind Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer. Verlander, in his 20th season, has 3,468 strikeouts. Scherzer has 3,412 in 18 seasons.
'I knew I had eight to go,' Kershaw said. 'Eight in Colorado is never going to be easy to do. I felt good. But pitched well, got through six. A chance to strike out three at home would be really cool.'
Kershaw's next start is expected to come at Dodger Stadium next Wednesday (July 2) against the Chicago White Sox.
'He's certainly competing, making pitches,' manager Dave Roberts said. 'I think he has gotten better each time out, even with not the best of stuff. He just found a way to be efficient.'
Kershaw struck out three in the first two innings Thursday and got his fourth for the final out of the fifth. He struck out Tyler Freeman for the second out of the sixth inning and left the game after retiring the next batter. He threw 69 pitches, 41 for strikes.
'You always want to be efficient, no matter what,' Kershaw said. 'My days of throwing 115 pitches is probably over. Getting through six is probably the biggest thing at Coors Field.
'Doc (Roberts) is doing a good job of protecting me, which I appreciate. I just want to be able to go back out there every fifth, sixth day. Whatever that means is good for now.'
Kershaw recorded two strikeouts on his 73 mph curve and got three more on sliders against a Rockies' lineup that included all right-handed batters.
'He did what he needed to do,' Roberts said.
The three-time NL Cy Young Award winner and 10-time All-Star received plenty of crowd support in Colorado, getting a standing ovation from some in the Coors Field crowd when he left the mound after the sixth inning.
Kershaw had made eight starts this season after being activated from the injured list May 17 following offseason left knee and foot surgeries.
'He has given us a shot in the arm,' Roberts said. 'We're sort of ailing on the starting pitching side. Coming in and giving us valuable innings. I just love that kind of edge that he gives on start day. We certainly feed off that.'
Kershaw won his fourth straight game, and his ERA dropped to a season-low 3.03.
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USA Today
22 minutes ago
- USA Today
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- USA Today
NBA free agency: Who are the biggest names on the market?
The NBA free agency period has officially started with several notable names available. All teams were able to begin negotiations with free agents who had finished out the season on their respective rosters since June 23. Now, teams will have the opportunity to reach out to all other free agent players as early as Monday afternoon. Several players have already avoided the free agency process and reportedly worked out deals to remain with their current teams. That group includes guard Kyrie Irving (Dallas Mavericks), guard Fred VanVleet (Houston Rockets) and center Naz Reid (Minnesota Timberwolves). Forward John Collins has already exercised his player option to return to the Utah Jazz. Player movement will continue to be reported over the next week, but all free agent contracts will not become official until Sunday, July 6, at 12:01 p.m. ET. Here are some of the biggest names expected to be on the free agent market: NBA power rankings: How all 30 teams stack up after 2025 NBA Draft LeBron James, Forward, Player option There was brief chatter about what's next for LeBron James after the season concluded for the Los Angeles Lakers, but there's no expectation that he will retire or put on a different uniform next season. The 41-year-old currently has a $52.6 million player option for the 2025-26 season that he's likely to opt into, according to ESPN's Sham Charania. James Harden, Guard, Player option Much like LeBron, James Harden has a $36.3 million player option that would allow him to return to the Los Angeles Clippers for the upcoming season. Harden was named to the All-NBA Third Team and was selected for his 11th All-Star game. Myles Turner, Center, Unrestricted free agent Turner's season just came to an end after falling short with the Indiana Pacers in Game 7 of the NBA Finals. While Turner is likely to receive interest from several suitors, the Pacers likely have the advantage by having had a few days to negotiate with the big man exclusively in recent days. Julius Randle, Forward, Player option Julius Randle can return to the Minnesota Timberwolves roster with the $30.9 player option he has available to him. If he decides to return, it would help keep a similar lineup in Minnesota that just played in the Western Conference Finals. Jonathan Kuminga, Forward, Restricted Kuminga will have the opportunity to test the market and sign an offer sheet with any team, but it will be up to the Golden State Warriors to decide to match the terms of any offer he agrees to. Kuminga started 10 of the 47 games he played in for the Warriors in this past season, averaging 15.3 points and 4.6 rebounds in 24.3 minutes per game. He was tendered with a $7.9 million qualifying offer on Saturday, according to ESPN's Ohm Youngmisuk.
