When Los Angeles Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw is on the mound, impressive things usually happen.
Watching him pitch six or seven dominant innings has become a routine ever since he made his majors debut in 2008.
In fact, there is a particular stat that shows just how good he has been at giving his team length and quality at the same time.
“Most starts of 7+ IP, 3 or fewer hits allowed and no walks, since 1901: Greg Maddux: 22; Clayton Kershaw: 15; Grover Alexander (also known as Pete!): 14,” MLB stats expert Sarah Langs tweeted.
most starts of 7+ IP, 3 or fewer hits allowed and no walks, since 1901:
Greg Maddux: 22
Clayton Kershaw: 15
Grover Alexander (also known as Pete!): 14—Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) April 19, 2023
This particular stat doesn’t set a maximum of runs allowed, but if you concede three hits or less and don’t walk anyone, you can be pretty much sure the damage in runs won’t be much, if any.
Kershaw belongs among the all-time elite when it comes to command.
Maddux is probably first on that list: he could place the ball anywhere and succeeded because of it, as he didn’t have elite fastball velocity.
Kershaw could be in the conversation behind “The Professor” when it comes to control and command, though.
It’s what has helped him dominate as a 35-year-old left-hander with a 91-mph fastball.
Well, that and his elite curveball and slider.
On Tuesday night, Kershaw had one of his trademark dominant outings against a true contender, the New York Mets.
In seven innings, the stellar southpaw allowed three hits, no runs and no walks, just enough to meet Langs’ requirements and keep chasing Maddux.
Only time will tell if he will catch him, but just competing with him in a statistical category should be enough to highlight how good Kershaw has been.
He is a future first-ballot Hall of Famer.
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