Clayton Kershaw wins MLB Players Choice 2013 NL Oustanding Pitcher

Award season continued for Clayton Kershaw on Monday, as the Dodgers ace starter was named the National League Outstanding Pitcher in the 2013 MLB Players Choice Awards. The Players Choice Awards were voted on by MLB players in mid-September with supervision of the accounting firm KMPG.

Kershaw beat out Jose Fernandez of the Marlins and Francisco Liriano of the Pirates for the award. Kershaw was also one of three finalists for the MLB Player of the Year along with Chris Davis of the Orioles, but both lost out to Miguel Cabrera of the Tigers.

Kershaw finished tied for fourth last week in the Sporting News Player of the Year voting, also won by Cabrera.

Yasiel Puig was also a Players Choice Award finalist, losing out on NL Outstanding Rookie to Fernandez (get used to that result, by the way).

In 33 starts in 2013 Kershaw was 16-9 with a major league best 1.83 ERA in a career-high 236 innings. Kershaw led the majors in ERA, ERA+ (194), and WHIP (0.915), and is just the third pitcher even to lead MLB in ERA in three straight seasons, joining Lefty Grove (1929-31) and Greg Maddux (1993-95). Kershaw also led the National League with 232 strikeouts, his second time leading the league in strikeouts in the last three seasons.

"That's the coolest thing, to have your peers' respect and get to see that they recognize what you've done during the year is pretty special," Kershaw said on MLB Network. "I definitely don't take it for granted."

Kershaw won the Players Choice Award for NL Pitcher of the Year in 2011 as well, the same year he captured National League Cy Young Award honors from the BBWAA. Kershaw is an overwhelming favorite to win his second Cy Young Award as well, which will be announced on Nov. 13.

Kershaw, who won the Roberto Clemente Award in 2012 for his performance both on and off the field, won the Branch Rickey Award in 2013 for his baseball success and charitable endeavors. He was also awarded the 2013 Warren Spahn Award, which he also won in 2011, given annually to the top left-handed pitcher in MLB based on wins, strikeouts and ERA. Kershaw was also voted by Dodgers teammates as the 2013 Roy Campanella Award winner, given annually to the player who exemplifies the spirit and leadership as the Hall of Fame catcher.

With the award comes a $20,000 grant to a charity of the player's choice. Kershaw said his grant will go to Kershaw's Challenge, which supports three charities: Mercy Street in Dallas, Sharefest in Los Angeles, and Arise Afica.