Clayton Kershaw

36-Year-Old PitcherSP

Free Agent

Out

Injury Toe

Est. Return 2/1/2025

2024 Stats

W-L

2-2

ERA

4.50

WHIP

1.50

2025 Projections

W-L

ERA

WHIP

Unlock Our Projections

2025 Fantasy Outlook

Kershaw still carries great respect within baseball as he reaches the end of a Hall of Fame career, but his inability to avoid injury has made the three-time Cy Young Award winner a major gamble in fantasy. Last season, he didn't pitch for the Dodgers until late July after undergoing offseason shoulder surgery, then made just seven starts before being done for the campaign due to bone spurs in his left big toe. Over his seven appearances, the southpaw showed flashes of his former brilliance -- in a three-start stretch to begin August, for example, he allowed just two runs over 16.1 innings with a 13:3 K:BB -- but he also had some ugly outings and logged an overall mediocre 4.50 ERA and 1.50 WHIP. It's worth remembering that Kershaw was an All-Star the two years prior and registered a 2.37 ERA and 9.6 K/9 over 258 innings during those campaigns, so his 2024 sample size may be too small to indicate that he's emptied out the tank. Still, Kershaw is slated to undergo surgery to both his toe and left knee in the offseason, and though he's indicated a plan to return to Los Angeles in 2025, he's very unlikely to be ready to pitch by the start of the campaign and could have his workload heavily managed upon his return. Read Past Outlooks

RANKS

From Preseason

Dynasty

Bats L

Throws L

40 Man No

Height 6'3"

Weight 220

DOB 3/19/1988

Drafted 1st Rd 2006

Declines option

PFree Agent

Toe

November 4, 2024

Kershaw (toe) became a free agent after declining his player option Monday, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

ANALYSIS
Kershaw has publicly stated that he intends to pitch for the Dodgers next season, but he'll officially become a free agent while the two sides work toward a new contract. He made seven starts for LA during the 2024 campaign, posting a 4.50 ERA and 1.50 WHIP with 24 strikeouts over 30.0 innings before his season was ended due to bone spurs in his left big toe.

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Pitching Stats

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2024

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

2024 MLB Game Log

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2023 MLB Game Log

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2022 MLB Game Log

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2021 MLB Game Log

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2020 MLB Game Log

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Pitching Appearances Breakdown

Average Pitch Count

Last 10 Games

Last 5 Games

How many pitches does Clayton Kershaw generally throw?

1-10

11-20

21-30

31-40

41-50

51-60

61-70

71-80

81-90

91-100

101-110

111-120

121+

1-10

11-20

21-30

31-40

41-50

51-60

61-70

71-80

81-90

91-100

101-110

111-120

121+

1-10

11-20

21-30

31-40

41-50

51-60

61-70

71-80

81-90

91-100

101-110

111-120

121+

What part of the game does Clayton Kershaw generally pitch?

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

5th

6th

7th

8th

9th

Extra

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

5th

6th

7th

8th

9th

Extra

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

5th

6th

7th

8th

9th

Extra

% Games Reaching Innings Threshold

% Games By Number of Innings Pitched

Left/Right Pitching Splits

Since 2022

-1%

BAA vs LHP

2024

-19%

BAA vs LHP

2023

-25%

BAA vs LHP

2022

-22%

BAA vs RHP

	BAA	Batters	K	BB	H	2B	3B	HR
Since 2022vs Left	.216	198	40	15	38	3	0	3
Since 2022vs Right	.219	951	258	57	194	39	2	28
2024vs Left	.258	34	9	0	8	1	0	1
2024vs Right	.318	99	15	9	28	6	1	1
2023vs Left	.162	83	11	7	12	0	0	2
2023vs Right	.217	440	126	33	88	19	0	17
2022vs Left	.254	81	20	8	18	2	0	0
2022vs Right	.198	412	117	15	78	14	1	10
More Splits→	View More Split Stats

Home/Away Pitching Splits

Since 2022

-17%

ERA at Home

2024

-27%

ERA on Road

2023

-50%

ERA at Home

2022

-9%

ERA on Road

	ERA	WHIP	IP	W	L	SV	K/9	BB/9	HR/9
Since 2022Home	2.34	1.00	134.2	13	2	0	10.7	1.7	0.9
Since 2022Away	2.82	1.10	153.1	14	8	0	8.1	2.8	1.0
2024Home	5.27	1.76	13.2	0	1	0	10.5	2.6	0.0
2024Away	3.86	1.29	16.1	2	1	0	4.4	2.8	1.1
2023Home	1.58	0.84	57.0	7	1	0	10.1	1.7	1.3
2023Away	3.13	1.23	74.2	6	4	0	8.8	3.5	1.3
2022Home	2.39	0.98	64.0	6	0	0	11.3	1.4	0.8
2022Away	2.17	0.90	62.1	6	3	0	8.2	1.9	0.6
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Stat Review

How does Clayton Kershaw compare to other starting pitchers?

This section compares his stats with all starting pitcher seasons from the previous three seasons (minimum 120 innings)*. The bar represents the player's percentile rank. For example, if the bar is halfway across, then the player falls into the 50th percentile for that stat and it would be considered average.

* Exit Velocity, Barrels/BBE %, Balls Hit 95+ MPH %, and Spin Rate are benchmarked against 2019 data (min 120 IP). See here for more exit velocity/barrels stats plus an explanation of current limitations with that data set.

K/BB

2.67

K/9

7.2

BB/9

2.7

HR/9

0.6

Fastball

90.0 mph

ERA

4.50

WHIP

1.50

BABIP

.359

GB/FB

1.32

Left On Base

61.6%

Exit Velocity

83.8 mph

Barrels/BBE

3.2%

Spin Rate

2312 rpm

Balls Hit 95+ MPH

29.7%

Swinging Strike

10.2%

Advanced Pitching Stats

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Defensive Stats

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Stats Vs Today's Lineup

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Recent RotoWire Articles Featuring Clayton Kershaw See More

The Z Files: Generic MLB Playoff Ranks by Position

82 days ago

Todd Zola provides some player rankings ahead of the playoffs, as Mookie Betts and the Dodgers take MLB's best record into the postseason.

The Z Files: Strategy and Rankings for the Underdog Fantasy Playoff Contest

86 days ago

Todd Zola examines strategies for the Underdog postseason contest, and notes that while Shoehi Ohtani may be the best player, you may not want to take him first overall.

NL FAAB Factor: Waiver Wire for the Week

104 days ago

This week's set of National League pickup recommendations includes DL Hall, who was recently recalled by the Brewers.

Weekly Pitcher Rankings: One Start at a Time

105 days ago

Mr. Consistency, Zack Wheeler, is a top-five fantasy pitcher for the week of September 9 to September 15, according to Tood Zola's rankings.

Fantasy Baseball Injury Report: Bone Spur Causing Kershaw Problems

109 days ago

Jeff Stotts cautions Clayton Kershaw's fantasy value is limited as he is dealing with inflammation in his left big toe due to a bone spur in the area, leaving him in a walking boot.

Past Fantasy Outlooks

2024

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013

2012

2011

2010

2009

2008

2007

Limited but effective was an accurate way to describe Kershaw for the third straight year in 2023, as he posted a 2.46 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 137:40 K:BB across 131.2 innings. The left-hander was sidelined for six weeks over the summer with shoulder inflammation but returned in August and gave up just nine runs in his final eight outings, though he averaged fewer than five frames per start. Kershaw was then lit up for six runs while recording just one out in his lone playoff start, and he ended up requiring shoulder surgery after the season. He indicated a possible return sometime in the summer of 2024, but there are major question marks as he hits free agency heading into his age-36 campaign. Injuries have been a concern for years as his 24 starts last season was the most since 2019, but major shoulder surgery is a much different beast than the arm soreness, discomfort and back issues he's otherwise pitched around. With a vague recovery timeline, Kershaw is likely nothing more than a stash for fantasy managers in 2024, barring any significant developments in his rehab.

Old man river keeps on running, and it appears he will continue trickling out to the mound for the Dodgers as long as his body holds up in 2023. The only skills he lacks these days are velocity and good health as he has not made 30 starts since the 2015 season and his fastball is clinging on to the good side of 90 MPH by a stitch of the baseball. Yet, there are few pitchers better at their craft like Kershaw when he is right physically as his elite breaking stuff is the main course after his fastball command has set the table. We could go on all day with superlatives about his real pitching, but his fantasy projections must consider the fact he has missed about a third of the season each of the past two seasons with different issues and that is not a skill which gets better with age. You will get ace stuff most of the time when he takes the ball, but you have to be prepared for him to have at least one stint on the IL each season.

First, the good news. Kershaw started 22 games and registered a 29.5% strikeout rate and 25.2% K-BB%, their highest since 2017. Now, the bad news. Kershaw was sidelined from early July to mid-September with a sore shoulder. Finally, the ominous news. Upon returning, Kershaw was shut down with forearm discomfort. Despite scans showing no ligament damage, Kershaw reported he received PRP injections, most often used in lieu of Tommy John surgery on a slight UCL tear. The extent of Kershaw's injury is unclear. The Dodgers declined his qualifying offer, but brought him back on a one-year $17 million contract after the lockout, which suggests he's not a lost cause from a health standpoint. Until Kershaw is on a mound and throwing pain free, he's a huge risk, but the Dodgers opting to bring him back is as good of an outcome in free agency as we could have hoped for.

Dodgers fans will remember Kershaw's 2020 campaign as the year he exorcised his postseason demons and claimed his first World Series ring. From a fantasy perspective, the future Hall of Famer's season was a return to form and a statement that he still belongs among the game's top starters. Perhaps fueled by an offseason visit to Driveline Baseball, Kershaw ratcheted his fastball velocity up a notch to 91.6 mph and posted his highest K% (28.1) in three seasons. Meanwhile, he once again demonstrated superb control, ranking in the top 3% of MLB hurlers with a 3.6 BB%. The results added up to an elite 2.16 ERA, 3.05 xFIP and 0.84 WHIP, each among the top 10 in the majors (min. 50 innings). There is some injury risk with Kershaw due to back issues that now seem to be a yearly occurrence, but the performance risk is basically nil. Draft him as a top-10 SP1 until Father Time says otherwise.

Kershaw was a top-12 starting pitcher on our Earned Auction Value Calculator last season, but was not even the most valuable Dodger. Still, it was nice to see him rebound from the disappointing 2018 statistical performance and return to the form we've grown accustomed to this decade. Even with the injuries here and there, he is still a safe staff ace because when he is pitching, you are getting terrific results. The 3.03 ERA was his worst ERA since his rookie season and he has not had a WHIP above 1.10 since the 2010 season. The days of 200-plus strikeouts may be a thing of the past, but you cannot buy ratios and consistent wins production from pitchers these days like Kershaw has put up when he's been healthy. He is a low-end SP1 these days, so a first-round pick would be foolish, but a third-rounder would not be depending on how you want to build your roster. Absolutely no skills risk in play here.

For the first time in what seems like forever, Kershaw will not be the first pitcher off the board, likely falling out of the top-five, landing borderline top-10. The reason isn't just injury concern. His skills, particularly strikeouts, are slipping. With respect to health, Kershaw missed a large chunk of time for the third straight season. He's only started 30 games once since 2013, totaling 33 in 2015. His back woes appear to be chronic and will thus be a concern for the rest of his career. Kershaw's K% plummeted to 23.9%, its lowest since 2008, his inaugural campaign. A 1.7-mph drop from his four-seamer is the likely culprit. However, Kershaw's velocity was down consistently all season, with a range from 89.6 mph in July to 91.2 in June, suggesting he can still pitch effectively, though not at an elite level if the velocity doesn't return. There's risk, but Kershaw's control and high-end secondary offerings should keep him among the best when healthy.

Even Kershaw wasn’t immune from the 2017 home run barrage as he recorded a HR/9 north of 1.0 for the first time, allowing 23 long balls, by far a career high. He also averaged just 6.5 innings per start, his first season below 7.0 since 2012. The lefty also missed over a month due to injury for the third time in the last four seasons. Still, Kershaw remains the top fantasy starting pitcher, though durability likely precludes him from top overall player consideration. He’s as dominant as ever, though his 2017 walk rate (1.5 BB/9) regressed back to career norms after his ultra-stingy 2016 campaign. While it’s tempting to overlook the issue as Kershaw’s health appears fine, back woes often hibernate; they rarely go away. Injury risk puts him atop a tier with fellow aces Max Scherzer, Corey Kluber and Chris Sale. The days of tossing 230-plus innings are likely over anyway, even if he stays healthy all year.

Despite missing two months with a back injury -- specifically, a herniated disc -- Kershaw finished as the No. 6 pitcher last season in terms of earned 5x5 fantasy value. He was more dominant than ever when on the mound, posting an otherworldly 172:11 K:BB in 149 innings (65:2 K:BB in May). His 15.3 percent swinging-strike rate would have tied Max Scherzer as the best among qualifiers had he logged enough innings to qualify, and Kershaw's command and control reached unprecedented levels as he shaved his walk rate to just two percent. There were no noticeable lingering effects from the back injury upon his return in September (0.86 ERA) and he looked plenty strong into late October as he carried the Dodgers on said back to the NLCS. Entering his age-29 season, Kershaw still looks very much in his prime and remains worthy of a first-round pick, if not top-five overall.

It had been 13 years since we had seen a pitcher strike out 300 or more in a season (Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling in 2002), but Kershaw finished with 301 punchouts en route to winning 16 games with a 2.13 ERA and 0.88 WHIP. After posting sub-2.00 ERA seasons in 2013 and 2014, it's amazing to think some view 2015 as a disappointment for Kershaw, but that's what happens when expectations are sky-high. Kershaw's 11.6 K/9 was easily the best mark of his distinguished career, and as usual his control was excellent with a 1.6 BB/9. It's fair to wonder whether we have seen him peak, but Kershaw is only headed into his age-28 season, so he's firmly in his prime. Like all pitchers, there is always the possibility of a massive drop-off or some sort of arm injury, but few would give any other pitcher the title of "best in the game," making him a sure-fire 2016 first-round pick, particularly given the strikeout ability.

What could Kershaw possibly do to improve upon his three straight ERA and WHIP titles with a pair of Cy Youngs and a second-place finish in between? Surely, he can’t get better, so even though you can expect greatness, it’ll likely be regressed from 2013. Well, not exactly. Left with the seemingly impossible task of one-upping himself, Kershaw somehow did just that and then some, winning titles in the aforementioned categories, including career-bests in each, as well as his third Cy Young and his first NL MVP. And all of that despite missing April and failing to reach the 200-inning mark. At this point, it would be foolish to suggest he can’t possibly best himself yet again. How about a 1.00 ERA? He is the unquestioned best pitcher in the game and a surefire first-rounder regardless of league size and format.

Kershaw took home his second NL Cy Young award in three years, recording the lowest ERA (1.82) since Pedro Martinez posted a 1.74 mark in the 2000 season. Kershaw also led the league in strikeouts (232) and WHIP (0.92) while tossing a career-high 236 innings. Basically, he's the best pitcher in "real life" and in fantasy. Amazingly, he'll pitch all of 2014 as a 26-year-old, and the 2.0 BB/9 that Kershaw carried last season was actually the best result he's ever returned in that department.

Kershaw finished second in the NL Cy Young voting to R.A. Dickey, but it was another solid season for the left-hander. Kershaw led the league in ERA (2.53) for the second straight season while finishing with 229 strikeouts, second in the league behind Dickey's 230. Kershaw had a 2.10 ERA after the All-Star break, while continuing to average 93 mph with his fastball with excellent control (2.5 BB/9). It's amazing to think that he's only entering his age-25 season, so another Cy Young caliber performance seems likely barring an injury. He should be one of the first three pitchers off all draft boards this spring.

Kershaw was named the National League Cy Young winner after winning the NL's pitching triple crown with 21 wins, a 2.28 ERA and 248 strikeouts. The key to his success was a marked improvement in his control, as his BB/9IP trend over the past three years looks like this: 4.8, 3.6 and 2.1. It's pretty much impossible for Kershaw to markedly improve upon his 2011 season, but considering he's just 24, he should be very good for the next several years.

Kershaw took a big step towards ace status in 2010, finishing as one of only four NL starters with at least 200 strikeouts (212) and an ERA under 3.00 (2.91). A big key to his success was in dropping his walk rate from 4.8 BB/9IP in 2009 to 3.6 last year (and 3.0 after the All-Star break). Kershaw will look to build on that in 2011 as a 23-year-old with 483 big league innings already under his belt. The sky is certainly the limit.

Kershaw played all of 2009 as a 21-year-old in his first full season, and the results were impressive, even though the 8-8 win-loss record was not. Among National League pitchers, Kershaw's 2.79 ERA ranked fifth and his 185 strikeouts were 11th. The big problem? His 93 walks ranked third. Seemingly the only thing preventing the former seventh overall pick from annual NL Cy Young contention is that wavering command, and encouragingly, Kershaw made some adjustments in the season's second half that resulted in a 4.0 BB/9IP rate versus a 5.3 mark before the All-Star break. He's already a top-30 fantasy pitcher, with the potential for far more as early as 2010.

Kershaw acquitted himself well in his first taste of major league action, going 5-5 with a 4.26 ERA and 100:52 K:BB in 107.2 innings for the Dodgers. Kershaw's command wavered from time to time, though he finished with a 60:24 K:BB in his final two months after starting with a 40:28 mark. He will be counted on as the team's No. 5 starter and could approach 200 strikeouts once given 180 innings of work (to limit the strain on his golden arm). Kershaw is projected as a true ace, though that day may not come for a couple years.

Kershaw skipped High-A ball this year, jumping straight to Double-A in August at the ripe old age of 19. It was Kershaw's first full season as a professional after being drafted seventh overall out of high school in 2006. Between Low-A and Double-A, Kershaw had a 2.95 ERA and 163:67 K:BB in 122 innings. He'll return to Double-A to open 2008, but if Kershaw can improve his overall command and show improvement in his changeup, he could be a huge factor for the Dodgers down the stretch in 2008. He's probably baseball's top pitching prospect yet to debut in the big leagues.

The team's No. 1 pick (seventh overall) in the 2006 draft, Kershaw, despite his youth, is already one of baseball's top pitching prospects. Unlike other young Dodger pitchers, the control bug has yet to bite the young left-hander. In 37 innings for the GCL Dodgers, Kershaw posted an impressive 54:5 K:BB ratio featuring a fastball that already touches 96 mph, a plus curve and an advanced change. He'll make his full-season debut in 2007 (likely for the organization's new affiliate in the Low-A Midwest League), and while he won't be major league ready until sometime in 2009, long-term keeper leaguers should have Kershaw on their radars.

More Fantasy News

Scheduled for surgery

PLos Angeles Dodgers

Toe

November 1, 2024

Kershaw said Friday that he will undergo surgery on his toe and left knee Wednesday, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

ANALYSIS
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Plans to continue pitching in 2025

PLos Angeles Dodgers

Toe

October 14, 2024

Kershaw (toe) said Monday in an interview on FOX that he plans to continue his baseball career in 2025, Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times reports.

ANALYSIS
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Won't pitch again this season

PLos Angeles Dodgers

Toe

October 5, 2024

Kershaw's injured toe has not improved, and he won't be available to pitch again in 2024 regardless of how far the Dodgers advance in the playoffs, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports.

ANALYSIS
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Not on NLDS roster

PLos Angeles Dodgers

Toe

October 5, 2024

Kershaw (toe) does not have a roster spot for the NLDS versus San Diego.

ANALYSIS
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Progress stalled

PLos Angeles Dodgers

Toe

September 26, 2024

Kershaw (toe) will not be available for at least a couple more weeks, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

ANALYSIS
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Latest Fantasy Rumors

Not going anywhere

PLos Angeles Dodgers

November 3, 2024

According to Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register, Kershaw, who is scheduled for surgery on his toe and left knee Wednesday, said he is "going to be a Dodger" when asked about his $10 million player option for 2025.

ANALYSIS
The left-hander was limited to just seven starts in 2024 and had a 4.50 ERA across 30 innings, and he's planning to return next year for his age-37 campaign. Kershaw is 32 strikeouts away from 3,000 for his career and should be able to reach that milestone with a semi-healthy season in 2025.

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