The Los Angeles Dodgers star pitcher, Clayton Kershaw, is close to an illustrious career milestone: 3,000 strikeouts. With 2,912 strikeouts already under his belt at the All-Star break, he only needs 88 more.
As sports enthusiasts and bettors eye the odds on Bet 365, the tantalizing question remains – will he get the job done this regular season?
Will Clayton Kershaw Get To 3,000 Strikeouts In The 2023 Regular Season?
Several sportsbooks are offering this as a special MLB prop. Bet365 has the best odds on our favorite pick…more on that in a bit. Here are the details:
- Yes: +160
- No: -190
Odds via Bet365 as of Thursday, July 13.
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Breaking Down Kershaw’s Pace
With three Cy Young awards, an MVP title in 2014, and an indisputable spot in the Hall of Fame, Kershaw’s career is already studded with accolades. This season, however, the spotlight is on his pursuit of a different kind of glory: 3,000 career strikeouts.
As mentioned above, he needs 88 strikeouts to achieve the milestone.
With 73 games left in the Dodgers’ season, Kershaw (if he stays completely healthy) will have around 14 starts left. His current average of 6.56 strikeouts per game suggests he could amass another 91.84 strikeouts, surpassing the 88 he needs to reach 3k.
However, it’s not that straightforward.
Injury, Rest Concerns Loom
Amidst the anticipation, a few stumbling blocks loom large.
Kershaw’s health remains a chief concern. Presently, he is on the 15-day injured list due to left shoulder inflammation. This setback may delay his return to the mound after the All-Star break. It could potentially lead the Dodgers to limit his pitch counts or have him skip starts to preserve him for the postseason.
Additionally, Kershaw’s recent performance adds another layer of uncertainty. His strikeout pace, once brisk, has slowed considerably. He has failed to record five or more strikeouts in three consecutive games, which could potentially stunt his progress toward the milestone.
Will Kershaw Eclipse The Milestone?
These factors combined make it appear unlikely that Kershaw will be celebrating his 3,000th strikeout this regular season. Despite his impressive career and current performance, the interplay of his health status, recent performance, and the remaining games in the Dodgers’ season make this feat challenging.
However, this in no way detracts from Kershaw’s greatness or his eventual reaching of this milestone. Even if he falls short this season, he’s well-positioned to cross this threshold early next year or maybe in the 2023 postseason. His dominance, longevity, and impressive list of accolades assure his position as a baseball icon and a first-ballot Hall of Fame entrant when eligible.
What’s The Bet?
For those interested in placing a wager on this exciting prospect, Bet 365 offers odds of +160 for Kershaw reaching 3,000 strikeouts this season and -190 for him falling short. Based on our analysis, the latter appears to be the safer bet.
That’s better than the -200 odds for ‘no’ at DraftKings Sportsbook.
Where to bet: Will Kershaw Get To 3,000 Strikeouts This Regular Season? No | -190 at Bet365