Countdown to Opening Day - 3: Kershaw has his eyes on history
In this 30-day series, theScore's MLB editors will preview the 2015 season with an in-depth look at some of the significant numbers - statistical milestones, jersey numbers and general miscellanea - poised to pop up throughout the campaign.
Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander Clayton Kershaw was simply dominant in 2014, taking home his third National League Cy Young award in the last four seasons. The 27-year old recorded a 21-3 record with a 1.77 ERA and set a new career-high with a 10.8 K/9. His season also included a no-hitter June 18 against the Colorado Rockies.
Kershaw's successful campaign included a number of impressive numbers:
- Recorded a 41-inning scoreless streak.
- Allowed three runs or less in 26 of 27 starts.
- Led all starters in the league in 44 pitching categories, including complete games, OBP against and road-game home run rate.
His season was impressive, to say the least, and if it wasn't for a second-place finish in the 2012 Cy Young voting - R.A. Dickey won it for the New York Mets - Kershaw would be in elite company with four straight Cy Youngs.
Kershaw is the favorite to win the award once again in 2015, with Bovada providing 1-1 odds for the left-hander, followed by Nationals right-handers Max Scherzer at 8-1 and Stephen Strasburg at 10-1. Doing so would put him in the same company as only two other pitchers in major-league history to win three straight Cy Young awards - Randy Johnson and Greg Maddux. In fact, both Hall of Famers took it one step further, winning four consecutive awards.
Randy Johnson
| Year | Team | Record | ERA | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Mariners | 18-2 | 2.48 | 294 |
| 1999 | D'Backs | 17-9 | 2.49 | 364 |
| 2000 | D'Backs | 19-7 | 2.64 | 347 |
| 2001 | D'Backs | 21-6 | 2.49 | 372 |
| 2002 | D'Backs | 24-5 | 2.32 | 334 |
Greg Maddux
| Year | Team | Record | ERA | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Cubs | 20-11 | 2.18 | 199 |
| 1993 | Braves | 20-10 | 2.36 | 197 |
| 1994 | Braves | 16-6 | 1.56 | 156 |
| 1995 | Braves | 19-2 | 1.63 | 181 |
The Cy Young award - handed out since 1956 - has been won multiple times by pitchers on 17 occasions, led by Rogers Clemens with 7.
| Player | awards | years |
|---|---|---|
| Roger Clemens | 7 | 1986/1987/1991/1997/2001/2004 |
| Randy Johnson | 5 | 1995/1999/2000/2001/2002 |
| Steve Carlton | 4 | 1972/1977/1980/1982 |
| Greg Maddux | 4 | 1992/1993/1994/1995 |
| Sandy Koufax | 3 | 1963/1965/1966 |
| Pedro Martinez | 3 | 1997/1999/2000 |
| Jim Palmer | 3 | 1973/1975/1976 |
| Tom Seaver | 3 | 1969/1973/1975 |
| Clayton Kershaw | 3 | 2011/2013/2014 |
| Bob Gibson | 2 | 1968/1970 |
| Tom Glavine | 2 | 1991/1998 |
| Roy Halladay | 2 | 2003/2010 |
| Tim Lincecum | 2 | 2008/2009 |
| Denny McLain | 2 | 1968/1969 |
| Gaylord Perry | 2 | 1972/1978 |
| Bret Saberhagan | 2 | 1985/1989 |
| Johan Santana | 2 | 2004/2006 |
Although spring numbers don't mean much, Kershaw seems ready for the season opener Monday versus the San Diego Padres despite feeling "all over the place" in his final tuneup. The lefty pitched in six Cactus League games, recording a 0.64 ERA and 22 strikeouts in 22 1/3 innings, and should once again be in the conversation for not only the Cy Young but the National League MVP, barring injury.
The deciding factor will come down to the competition, and a look at the steamer projections for other National League starters in 2015 shows it's his to lose.
| Player | Team | Win-Loss | ERA | K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clayton Kershaw | LAD | 16-8 | 2.31 | 251 |
| Max Scherzer | WAS | 15-9 | 2.98 | 241 |
| Stephen Strasburg | WAS | 13-9 | 3.12 | 207 |
| Madison Bumgarner | SF | 13-10 | 2.95 | 209 |
| Zack Greinke | LAD | 13-10 | 3.02 | 188 |
| Jon Lester | CHC | 13-10 | 3.35 | 194 |
| Jordan Zimmermann | WAS | 13-10 | 3.36 | 162 |
| Adam Wainwright | STL | 12-10 | 3.33 | 162 |
Should be a fun year tracking Kershaw's season once again.