by Mark Langill
When checking for anyone who amassed 3,000 strikeouts with the Dodgers since the franchise joined the National League in 1890, only Clayton Kershaw can raise his left arm in the affirmative.
Now in his 18th season, the longest-tenured pitcher in Dodger history, Kershaw is the 20th pitcher in MLB history to record 3,000 career strikeouts.
Kershaw struck out Chicago White Sox third baseman Vinny Capra to end the sixth inning on Wednesday to reach the milestone.
Kershaw struck out the first batter he faced in his Major League debut against the St. Louis Cardinals at Dodger Stadium on May 25, 2008. He started the Sunday afternoon game, wearing №54 for the only time in his career, and fanned leadoff hitter, Skip Schumaker.
Kershaw is the fifth player in MLB history to compile 3,000 strikeouts with one team — joining Hall of Famers Walter Johnson (Washington Nationals, 3,509), Bob Gibson (Cardinals, 3,117), Steve Carlton (Phillies, 3,031) and John Smoltz (Braves, 3,011).
Nine of the 20 players recorded their 3,000th career strikeout this century. In addition to Kershaw, the others are: Randy Johnson (2000 Diamondbacks), Greg Maddux (2005 Cubs), Curt Schilling (2006 Red Sox), Pedro Martinez (2007 Mets), Smoltz (2008 Braves), CC Sabathia (2019 Yankees), Justin Verlander (2019 Astros), Max Scherzer (2021 Dodgers),
Kershaw and Scherzer (Sept. 12, 2021) are the only pitchers to record №3,000 in a Dodger uniform. Former Dodgers in the 3,000 club include Don Sutton, Scherzer, Maddux and Martinez.
Kershaw is the fourth left-hander in the group, joining Carlton, Sabathia and Johnson.
