Clayton Kershaw retiring at end of season
 

The Dodgers just announced that Clayton Kershaw is retiring at the end of the season. Not surprising with his injury history, but he's been pitching pretty well so far this season.

Kind of cool he'll have a shot at going out on top -- and potentially changing the narrative about his postseason struggles.

Obviously as a Dodger fan I hate to see him go when he is pitching well, in the last couple of dismal months he has stopped losing streaks at least 2x. But he also hasn't pitched a qualified season in what, a decade?

He's actually pitched more than I thought over the last 10 years. Other than last year and 2020 (COVID), he has had at least 21 or more starts and 121 or more innings. This year, he's close to that with 20 starts and 102 innings with probably 2 more starts expected.

right but 162 IP is what's required to qualify for stats like ERA an ERA title. He's done that 2x in the last 10 years.

I will say I also like that he announced it late enough that there's not going to be a big farewell tour. I think maybe he said something to someone which explains his all-star presence this year, that was kind of a tip-off

3 Cy Young Awards, an MVP Award, 80+ WAR, 3,000 strikeouts, career WHIP of about 1.02, career ERA of about 2.54, 11 time All-Star, and a World Series ring.

Obviously, he had some postseason struggles. Still, Kershaw was a great pitcher for quite a long time. We won't see many like him again.

A little correction as he has 2 WS rings. Yes he had some postseason issues, but you have to discount the 2017 WS with the Astro cheaters (especially game 5, when he gave up 3 run leads twice because they knew when he was throwing an off speed pitch). And he had redemption in the 2020 WS when he pitched well.

Rick

Remember Mike Scott and the sandpaper in 1986? Astros...

It's worth noting that for the past decade the Dodgers have consistently had some of the deepest pitching rosters in baseball (and best lineups) and have sat their arms for extended periods of time with minor injuries that other clubs would would need to pitch through. They have routinely shut guys down in the summer to have to them completely fresh in September and October. Even though Kershaw has only pitched 162+ innings twice in the past decade, he's led LA's staff in innings 5 times and finished in the top 3 of the staff every other season but 2024. Since 2016 he's 4th in all of MLB for wins, 18th in K's, and 23rd in IP.

There has also been some discussion about lowering the qualification for the ERA title in MLB. I'd have to go back and check, but I think the average number of qualifiers has been less than 1 per team since 2015 and 2024 was the first season it was above 40 players in that span - largely thanks to an influx of talented young arms over the past couple seasons.

A lot of story left to write for Kershaw. Classy finish to his regular season career though -- nice that Ohtani just made sure he won't go out with a loss.

Paul Skenes

I'm curious where he lands on the list of all-time pitchers? He's the best of his generation. I just read an article by some knucklehead stats expert who claims he's in the Top 20, but he had Phil Niekro, Bob Gibson and Gaylord Perry ahead of him. I'd say Kershaw is in the Top 10, with only Gibson of the three even considered for the Top 20.

Amazing how similar he and Koufax are in stats.

The potential is there. I get it.

He has a long way to go, though, before he has 3,000+ Ks, 80+ WAR, 11 All-Star selections, etc.

Interestingly, Baseball Reference and a few other sites do not give Kershaw credit for the '24 championship. I believe this is due to him not being on the roster.

Still, you're right. Kershaw did get a ring.

Maybe, or maybe he's the next Tim Lincecum, Dwight Gooden, Mark Fidrych, Andy Messersmith (does anyone remember how good he was?) etc. Time will tell.