Los Angeles Dodgers: Listing 10 best games of Clayton Kershaw’s career

Clayton Kershaw of the Los Angeles Dodgers recently earned his 200th victory, moving one step closer to becoming the all-time franchise leader in victories.

Kershaw now trails only Don Sutton (233) and Don Drysdale (209) on that list. He is already No. 1 among Dodgers all-time in strikeouts, having fanned 2,833 opposing batters since arriving in the Majors in 2008.

The stat geeks absolutely adore Kershaw. He ranks first all-time among Dodgers in a host of next-level categories, among them: Adjusted Pitching Wins, Base-Out Runs Saved, Win Probability Added, and Situation Wins Saved.

Those are a few of the reasons why many contend that Kershaw is a sure-fire first-ballot Hall of Famer five years after he hangs them up.

In recognition of that 200th win, here’s a look at the 15 best-pitched games of the Dodgers’ left-handed ace, including 10 in the regular season and five in the postseason.

Our standard of measurement is Win Probability Added. That calculates the individual’s role in influencing the game’s outcome. For that reason, it emphasizes late-inning game-turning accomplishments. It judges the player’s contribution within the broader context of winning the game.

Here are Clayton Kershaw’s 10 most exceptional regular season performances for the Los Angeles Dodgers

10. July 25, 2010, Dodgers 1, Mets 0. In only his second full season, Kershaw scattered seven hits in eight innings of work before turning the outcome over to Kenley Jansen for the save. Four times the Mets got a runner into scoring position against Kershaw, but he never allowed that runner to advance.

Still the outcome wasn’t decided until Russell Martin’s eighth inning double drove in Casey Blake, who had singled. Win Probability Added: 0.533

9. July 20, 2011, Dodgers 1, Giants 0. This is the second of five 1-0 shutouts on Kershaw’s personal 10-best list. With ninth inning relief help from Javy Guerra, he held the Giants to three hits at AT&T Park, all of them singles, and struck out 12. This game was scoreless until the seventh, when Dionner Navarro homered off Giants starter Tim Lincecum. Win Probability Added: 0.537

8.  Aug. 12, 2015, Dodgers 3, Nationals 0. At Dodger Stadium, Kershaw pitched eight innings of three-hit shutout ball, striking out eight and walking none. The only Washington baserunners were Michael A. Taylor (sixth-inning double and eighth-inning single), and Anthony Rendon (seventh-inning single).

Kershaw protected a 1-0 lead until the eighth, when the Dodgers pushed across two insurance runs. Kenley Jansen pitched the ninth. Win Probability Added: 0.552.

3. May 23, 2016, Dodgers 1, Reds 0. Kershaw held the visiting Reds to just two hits and struck out seven. In the fourth inning of what at that point was a scoreless tie, Joey Votto worked Kershaw for a walk, only to watch helplessly as Brandon Phillips grounded into a double play.

Protecting that 1-0 lead in the ninth, Kershaw set down Eugenio Suarez, Zack Cozart and Billy Hamilton on two grounders and a fly ball to lock up the win. Win Probability Added: 0.719.

2. May 1, 2016, Dodgers 1 Padres 0. At Dodger Stadium, Kershaw produced another three-hit shutout, this one a complete game. He fanned 14 Padres along the way. The game turned in the San Diego seventh, the Dodgers leading 1-0 at the time.

With one out, Wil Myers and Matt Kemp singled back to back, Myers reaching third with the potential tying run. Kershaw struck out B.J. Upton, then retired Derek Norris on a fly ball to quell the threat. Win Probability Added: 0.730.

1 Sept. 14, 2010, Dodgers 1, Giants 0. At AT&T Park, Kershaw squared off against Barry Zito, who allowed only a harmless second inning Matt Kemp single. Then in the sixth, Zito hit Reed Johnson with a pitch, and issued a pair of two-out walks. Casey Blake chopped a grounder to Juan Uribe, but he fumbled it, allowing Johnson to score.

It wasn’t much, but Kershaw didn’t need much. He held the Giants to one hit the rest of the way, finishing with a complete game four-hit shutout. Win Probability Added: 0.793.

Clayton Kershaw’s five best postseason games

5. Game 4, 2015 NLDS, Oct. 13. Dodgers 3, Mets 1. At Citi Field, Kershaw allowed just one run and seven hits, striking out eight over seven innings. Win Probability Added: 0.308.

4. Game 5, 2016 NLDS, Oct. 13, Dodgers, 4, Nationals 3. Kershaw, who had started Game 4 two days earlier, came out of the bullpen for a climactic save. In the bottom of the ninth in Washington, closer Kenley Jansen fanned Trea Turner, but then walked Bryce Harper and Jason Werth, putting the potential tying and series-winning runs on base.

Kershaw came on and got Daniel Murphy to hit an easy infield pop fly for the second out. The next batter was Wilmer Difo, and Kershaw got him in a 1-2 hole then struck him out to send the Dodgers to the NLCS. Win Probability Added: 0.337.

3. Game 2, 2018 NLDS, Oct. 5,  Dodgers 3, Braves 0. With ninth inning relief help from Kenley Jansen, Kershaw shut out the Braves on two hits., one of them a game-starting double by Ronald Acuna. Acuna died at third as Kershaw set down the next 14 batters he faced. Win Probability Added: 0.386.

2. Game 2, 2020 NL wild card, Dodgers 3, Brewers 0. Kershaw pitched the Dodgers into the division round with eight innings of three-hit shutout work, striking out 13. He retired 10 of the last 11 batters he faced, and picked off the only one who reached base. Win Probability Added: 0.438.

1. Game 2, 2016 NLCS, Oct. 16, 2016, Dodgers 1, Cubs 0. Kershaw locked up with Kyle Hendricks in a superb pitching matchup. Hendricks allowed just three hits over five and one-third innings, Kershaw 2 hits over seven innings. The only run scored on Adrian Gonzalez’ home run leading off the second. Win Probability Added: 0.498.