Clayton Kershaw is set to take to the Dodger Stadium mound Saturday evening against the Detroit Tigers, needing four strikeouts to pass Hall of Famer Don Sutton and become the franchise’s career strikeouts leader.
Kershaw has 2,693 strikeouts in 2,471 2/3 innings since making his Dodgers and major league debut May 25, 2008. Sutton had 2,696 strikeouts in a franchise-record 3,816 1/3 innings with the Dodgers from 1966-80 and 87 1/3 innings in 1988, the final season of his career.
Sutton has held the record since Aug. 5, 1979, when he struck out Greg Johnston of the San Francisco Giants to increase his total to 2,486, passing Hall of Famer Don Drysdale.
Kershaw has 23 strikeouts in his three starts and 17 innings this season, including 13 in seven innings in his first appearance April 13. Kershaw had three strikeouts in his most recent start, Sunday against the San Diego Padres.
Kershaw is 26th on the career strikeout list. The left-hander needs 81 to pass Frank Tanana and move into 25th place.
Pregame ceremonies will include a video honoring Kirk Gibson and his accomplishments as a Dodger as he is inducted into the Legends of Dodger Baseball. Manny Mota and Bill Russell will unveil a plaque on Gibson’s behalf.
Mota and Russell were Dodgers coaches in 1988 when Gibson was the National League MVP. The 64-year-old Gibson is best remembered for his pinch-hit, game-winning two-run home run with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning in Game 1 of the 1988 World Series.