Freddie Freeman praises Clayton Kershaw for his outstanding shutout performance against the Rays
Clayton Kershaw Shines Again as Dodgers Top Tampa Bay Rays
In a dominant performance, Clayton Kershaw pitched six scoreless innings against the Tampa Bay Rays, leading the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 5-0 victory in the series opener. The win extended the Dodgers' lead in the NL West to a comfortable three-game margin.
Kershaw, who re-signed with the Dodgers on a one-year contract worth $7.5 million in February, has had an impressive comeback from offseason surgeries on his toe and left knee. His 2025 season performance includes a 5-2 win-loss record, a 3.29 ERA (earned run average), and a 1.25 WHIP (walks plus hits per inning pitched) across his appearances. He has amassed 42 strikeouts so far, demonstrating effective pitching despite the delayed start to his season.
Kershaw's stellar outing against the Rays was not his first impressive performance of the season. Earlier this year, he achieved a significant milestone with his 3,000th career strikeout, becoming the 20th MLB pitcher and fourth left-hander to reach that mark, all while spending his entire career with one team—an increasingly rare feat.
Freddie Freeman, the Dodgers' first baseman and a 16-year veteran, provided the offensive support with a two-run double in the first inning, and a home run in the fifth, extending LA's lead to 5-0. Freeman, an 11-time All-Star, is currently hitting .299 with a .853 OPS and 59 RBI. His performance against the Rays marked his second straight game with a homer, further solidifying his status as a key contributor to the Dodgers' offensive output.
The Dodgers' victory also marked the return of Blake Snell, a two-time Cy Young winner, to the mound. Snell has been sidelined by a shoulder injury since early April and will take the mound for the Dodgers on Saturday. With Kershaw's continued strong performances and the return of Snell, the Dodgers look poised to make a strong push towards the playoffs in the second half of the season.
[1] Kershaw's 2025 Stats
[2] Kershaw Joins 3,000 Strikeout Club
[3] Kershaw's Milestone 3,000th Strikeout
[4] Kershaw's Mid-July Stats
[1] Clayton Kershaw's 2025 statistics show a 5-2 win-loss record, a 3.29 ERA, and a 1.25 WHIP across his appearances, with 42 strikeouts.
[2] Kershaw's impressive feat of reaching 3,000 career strikeouts makes him the 20th MLB pitcher and the fourth left-hander to achieve this milestone, having spent his entire career with one team.
