Dodgers’ Kershaw Becomes 20th MLB Pitcher With 3,000 Strikeouts

Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander Clayton Kershaw recorded the 3,000th strikeout of his career on Wednesday night, freezing Chicago White Sox infielder Vinny Capra with an 84-mph slider in the sixth inning at Dodger Stadium. The 37-year-old became only the 20th pitcher in Major League Baseball history—and just the fourth left-hander—to reach the milestone.

Kershaw joins CC Sabathia, Randy Johnson and Steve Carlton as the only southpaws to cross the 3,000-strikeout threshold. He is also just the third pitcher to amass all 3,000 with a single franchise, underscoring a run of durability that has spanned 18 seasons since his 2008 debut.

A three-time Cy Young Award winner, 2014 National League MVP and two-time World Series champion, Kershaw owns a career 2.51 ERA and .697 winning percentage. "You’re talking about 18 years of consistent excellence—it’s hard not to call Clayton the greatest Dodger of all time," manager Dave Roberts said after the game.