Clayton Kershaw day by day: reaching 300

Clayton Kershaw has just one career start on June 28, and it was a milestone.

On June 28, 2018 the Dodgers hosted the Cubs, and though the final score was 11-5 it didn’t reflect Kershaw’s outing.

Kershaw allowed two singles in the first three innings but kept Chicago off the board. Javier Baez doubled to lead off the fourth and scored on an Addison Russell single gave the Cubs their first run, and their only run off Kershaw.

This was the second start off the disabled list for Kershaw, and he still wasn’t built back up just yet. He didn’t have a minor league rehab start, and only pitched three innings in his first game back, give days earlier.

From Stacie Wheeler’s game recap:

Kershaw pitched five strong frames against Chicago in his 300th start for the Dodgers. In his second start since returning from the disabled list, Kershaw’s curveball and fastball looked good. His fastball was up a tick from his last few starts hitting 93-mph on the gun.

Kershaw also became the 10th Dodgers pitcher to make 300 starts with the team, and held up quite well compared to the field:

Kershaw and Koufax are eerily similar in their strikeout totals in their first 300 starts, with Kershaw having the slight edge, 2,179 to 2,177.

Among the 10 Dodgers with 300 starts, Kershaw has the fewest walks (517) in his first 300 starts and the most strikeouts. His 2.38 ERA is the lowest and Kershaw has the fewest losses (68), and his 145 wins ranks only behind Hall of Famers Dazzy Vance (169) and Koufax (150).

This game got away from the Dodgers in the bullpen, with a young Walker Buehler and Erik Goeddel taking the brunt of the heat.

Side note: This was also the day I officially stepped away from day-to-day duties at True Blue LA. Things that are old sometimes are new again.

The outing: 5 IP, 4 hits, 1 run, 6 strikeouts

Up next: Three more starts on June 29, to finish off the month