Ever since Clayton Kershaw made his Major League debut for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2008, he has developed into not only one of the best pitchers of his generation, but one of the top hurlers of all-time.
The left-hander has been named to eight National League All-Star teams in his first 12 seasons, winning three NL Cy Young Awards, an MVP award in 2014 and five ERA titles.
While no one can doubt how great he has been in the regular season, something that has eluded him to this point in his career is winning a World Series, and a big reason for that has been his performances in October.
Here is a look back at Kershaw’s postseason history with the Dodgers.
2008
Kershaw made his postseason debut for the Dodgers in 2008 at the age of 20. He pitched in two games of relief in the NL Division Series against the Philadelphia Phillies, tossing 1.2 scoreless innings in a Game 2 loss and then allowing one run while only recording one out in a Game 4 defeat.
2009
Kershaw got a chance to start his first postseason game in 2009 and turned in a solid outing in the NLDS against the St. Louis Cardinals. Despite allowing nine hits, Kershaw limited the damage to two runs in 6.2 innings with the Dodgers going on to win, 3-2, in Game 2.
Things went south for Kershaw in the NL Championship Series that year in a rematch with the Phillies. He got the start in Game 1 and carried a 1-0 lead into the fifth inning. He was not able to get out of that fifth inning though, allowing a three-run home run to Carlos Ruiz and a two-run double to Ryan Howard, with L.A. eventually going on to lose by a score of 8-6.
Kershaw got the chance to redeem himself by coming out of the bullpen in Game 5, but he wasn’t much better, allowing two runs in two innings on a home run by Shane Victorino in another loss.
2013
It took four years for Kershaw and the Dodgers to get back to the postseason, and by this time, he was one of the best pitchers in all of baseball with one Cy Young to his name and another on the way in the winter after the 2013 season.
Kershaw’s first three starts of the 2013 playoffs was perhaps the best run in October of his career. He tossed seven innings of one-run ball, striking out 12 in Game 1 of the NLDS against the Atlanta Braves, and then followed that up with six shutout innings on three days rest in Game 4 to propel his team to a series win.
He got the ball again in Game 2 of the NLCS against the Cardinals and only was charged with one unearned run in six innings. Unfortunately, his offense did not help him out though and the Dodgers lost 1-0.
Kershaw’s final postseason start that year, however, was a disaster as he allowed 10 hits and seven runs in four innings in the decisive Game 6 for the Cardinals.
2014
While 2014 was Kershaw’s best regular season, winning the NL Cy Young and MVP Awards, it was arguably his worst postseason.
Facing the Cardinals once again, Kershaw got the ball in Game 1 at Dodger Stadium and was staked an early lead. He took a 6-2 lead into the seventh inning, but collapsed from there, being charged with five runs. The final three runs came on a grand slam by Matt Holiday that Pedro Baez gave up after Kershaw was removed.
Kershaw’s second start of that series in Game 4 came on three days rest, but the results were similar to the first. He looked great for six innings, carrying a 2-0 lead into the seventh, although that came crashing down on a three-run home run he gave up to Holiday, resulting in a 3-2 loss.
In Kershaw’s defense, the Dodgers’ lack of a reliable bullpen led to him being stretched out into the seventh inning in both of these starts. If he was removed after the sixth inning, which should have been the case, then both would have been quality outings.
2015
The 2015 postseason was a solid one for Kershaw despite the Dodgers being defeated by the Mets in five games in the NLDS. He took the loss in Game 1, but that was mainly due to the performance of Jacob deGrom. Kershaw was solid on that night, allowing three runs in 6.2 innings while striking out 11.
He then was even better in Game 4 back at Citi Field on three days rest, giving up just one run in seven innings to earn his team a trip back to Dodger Stadium for Game 5.
2016
Pitching on three days rest in the postseason has not been abnormal for Kershaw, but the 2016 NLDS against the Washington Nationals took it to a whole new level.
Kershaw wasn’t great in his two starts in Games 1 and 4, allowing three runs in five innings and five runs in 6.2 innings, respectively. The Dodgers were able to pull out wins in both games though, setting up a winner-take-all Game 5 at Nationals Park.
Despite only having one day of rest, Kershaw made himself available out of the bullpen. He came in to close out the game with one out in the ninth and a runner on first and got Daniel Murphy to pop up and Wilmer Difo to strikeout to earn his first career postseason save.
He then took the ball in Game 2 of the NLDS against the Chicago Cubs and was brilliant, tossing seven shutout innings with six strikeouts to earn a 1-0 victory at Wrigley Field.
Kershaw wasn’t as great in Game 6 of that series, however, allowing five runs (four earned) in five innings of a win-or-go-home game. The Cubs scored three runs in the first two innings, and then Kershaw also served up solo home runs to Willson Contreras and Anthony Rizzo in the loss.
2017
The 2017 postseason was another solid one for Kershaw. He allowed four solo home runs in 6.1 innings against the Arizona Diamondbacks in Game 1 of the NLDS, but the Dodgers’ offense scored early and often, so the outcome was never in much doubt.
He then got the start in Game 1 of the NLCS against the Cubs and gave up just two runs in five innings in a game that the Dodgers also won. Kershaw got the ball again in Game 5 with a chance to send his team to their first World Series since 1988, and he came through with six innings of one-run ball.
His offense again helped him out, led by three home runs off the bat of Kiké Hernandez, in the 11-1 victory.
Kershaw finally got the chance to make his first World Series start against the Houston Astros in Game 1 at Dodger Stadium, and the bright lights were not too much pressure for him. Kershaw was masterful, striking out 11 while only allowing one run in seven innings to earn a win.
Game 5 back at Minute Maid Park was a different story, however. Kershaw was given two leads by his offense but was not able to hold on to either one.
He gave up a pair of two-run doubles to Carlos Correa and Yuli Gurriel in the fourth inning, and then issued back-to-back walks in the fifth inning before Kenta Maeda came in and allowed a three-run home run to Jose Altuve. The Astros went on to win, 13-12, in 10 innings in what was one of the most epic World Series games ever.
The Astros have since been caught cheating via the use of electronic sign-stealing during that 2017 season, however, so it is hard to blame Kershaw for a poor performance when his opponent knew what pitches were coming. He threw more than 50 sliders and curveballs in that game and only got one swing and miss.
He redeemed himself with four shutout innings of relief in Game 7 back at Dodger Stadium, but the damage had already been done and the Dodgers went on to lose the series.
2018
Kershaw got the start in Game 2 of the NLDS against the Braves in 2018 and turned in perhaps his best postseason performance. While he only struck out three batters, he pitched eighth shutout innings while only giving up two hits with no walks in a 3-0 win.
He then struggled in Game 1 of the NLCS against the Milwaukee Brewers, giving up six hits and five runs (four earned) in three innings to take the loss. Included in that was a home run by Brewers relief pitcher Brandon Woodruff.
Kershaw rebounded in Game 5 though with seven strong innings of one-run ball, striking out nine to earn a victory. He also closed out Game 7 at Miller Park with a perfect ninth to send the Dodgers back to the World Series.
But the 2018 Fall Classic was not kind to Kershaw as he allowed a combined nine runs in 11 innings in Games 1 and 5 against the Boston Red Sox, taking losses both times.
2019
The Dodgers faced the eventual World Series champion Nationals in the NLDS and were defeated in five games, with Kershaw shouldering some of the blame.
He got the start in Game 2 and was outdueled by Stephen Strasburg, taking the loss while giving up three runs in six innings. He didn’t pitch again in that series until coming out of the bullpen in Game 5, and that appearance became noteworthy for the wrong reason.
Things started off good for Kershaw as he came in with the Dodgers leading 3-1 in the seventh inning. He got Adam Eaton to pop-up, escaping a two-on, two-out jam and maintaining the lead.
Unfortunately, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts sent Kershaw back out to pitch the eighth and he allowed back-to-back home runs to the first two batters faced, Anthony Rendon and Juan Soto, to tie the game at three. The Dodgers eventually went on to lose, 7-3, in 10 innings.
