Clayton Kershaw’s career has already been legendary. The ace has won three National League Cy Young Awards, a total that usually is reflective of a Hall of Fame-worthy career. He’s also won an NL MVP Award, is an eight-time All-Star and threw a no-hitter in 2014. His 2.44 career ERA currently ranks fourth among pitchers with at least 1,500 innings pitched since earned runs became official in both leagues in 1913.
By many measures, he’s already put together a resume that seems likely to one day grant him a plaque in Cooperstown. So it should come as little surprise to hear more about just how good he is, no matter the context. But if there’s anywhere that Kershaw shines brightest, it’s in the situations he’ll be in on Thursday: pitching on Opening Day and opposing the division-rival Giants.
Here’s a look at how dominant Kershaw has been in these scenarios.
Opening Day
Kershaw has started on Opening Day more than any other pitcher in Dodgers history. His eighth career Opening Day start in 2018 set that franchise record, and he’ll add to it with his ninth this year. And he didn’t just start eight Opening Day games -- he started eight straight, before injury kept him from continuing that streak last year.
It isn’t just that Kershaw has been so frequently present on Opening Day, with his soon-to-be nine starts ranking tied for 19th among all pitchers since at least 1904. But he’s been really, really good in those starts.
He has a 1.05 career ERA on Opening Day, the lowest among starters who’ve made more than five starts on Opening Day since earned runs became official in both leagues in 1913. The next-lowest ERA among pitchers with that many Opening Day starts is 1.21 by Bob Feller.
Lowest ERA on Opening Day since 1913
Min. 6 Opening Day starts
Clayton Kershaw: 1.05
Bob Feller: 1.21
Jim Palmer: 1.40
Hal Newhouser: 1.41
Walter Johnson: 1.51
Kershaw has allowed multiple runs on Opening Day just twice. In 2015, he allowed three to the Padres, and in '17 he allowed two (one earned), also to San Diego. He allowed one or no runs in each of the six other Opening Day starts.
The Dodgers are 7-1 in those eight Opening Day games Kershaw has started, with the only loss coming in a 1-0 game against the Giants in 2018. Only seven pitchers since at least 1904 have started more team wins on Opening Day: Tom Seaver (11), Walter Johnson (nine), Félix Hernández (nine), Justin Verlander (eight), Jack Morris (eight), Randy Johnson (eight) and Pete Alexander (eight).
Kershaw’s own record is 5-1, with those five wins leading all active pitchers on Opening Day.
Something Kershaw still has yet to do on Opening Day? Strike out 10 or more batters. He has 62 career 10-strikeout games, 14th-most by any pitcher since at least 1904 -- but none of those have come in the team’s first game of the season. He’s topped out at nine, three times, which is tied for third-most by a Dodgers pitcher on Opening Day in that span. The only double-digit strikeout efforts by Dodgers hurlers on record came from Don Drysdale, when he struck out 14 Cubs in 1960, and Harry McIntire, who set down 10 Beaneaters in 1906.
Against the Giants
It’s not just that Kershaw will be pitching on Opening Day, again, where he dominates. He’ll be doing it against the Giants, a team he has dominated throughout his career. Kershaw has faced the Giants more than any other team, with 342 1/3 career innings against them -- 80-plus more than he’s thrown against any other team.
He has just a 1.74 ERA in those innings against the Giants, the lowest by any active pitcher against a single opponent (minimum 140 IP). The next-lowest ERA on that list, by the way? Kershaw’s 1.98 mark against the Padres -- but that’s for another day.
That 1.74 ERA is notable beyond just active pitchers, too. It’s tied for the third-lowest ERA by a pitcher against a single opponent since earned runs became official in 1913 (minimum 200 IP). Only Reb Russell, with a 1.49 ERA against the Red Sox, and Hippo Vaughn, with a 1.67 ERA against the Pirates, had lower in that span. Kershaw’s 1.74 is tied with Eddie Cicotte against the Browns.
How has he compiled that 1.74 ERA? By throwing out predominantly zeroes. Kershaw has had 10 scoreless starts against the Giants in his career, tied with Lon Warneke for the most scoreless starts against the franchise in the Modern Era (since 1900), according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
Most scoreless starts vs Giants, Modern Era (since 1900)
Source: Elias Sports Bureau
Clayton Kershaw: 10
Lon Warneke: 10
Don Sutton: 9
Tom Seaver: 9
Sam Leever: 9
Five of those 10 scoreless starts have specifically been shutouts, which is two more shutouts than any other active pitcher has against a single opponent. Of his five shutouts against the Giants, one was even on Opening Day -- in 2013 at Dodger Stadium. His dominance was on display in more ways than one in that game, when he not only held the Giants to four hits and no runs with seven strikeouts and no walks, but also hit a solo homer in the eighth inning to break a 0-0 tie and put his team ahead for good.
Kershaw’s track record on Opening Day and success in his career against the Giants are just two more reasons to be excited for the start of the 2020 season and Thursday night’s game.