Former No. 1 overall pick DeAndre Ayton did not have to wait very long to find a new team this offseason.

The free agent center agreed to a two-year deal with the Los Angeles Lakers Wednesday night, according to a report from ESPN. He will earn $34 million next year with some of the payment coming from the Lakers and some coming from the Portland Trail Blazers, his former team.

Ayton finalized a buyout of his contract with the Blazers on Sunday, June 29 after Ayton and his representatives had expressed discontentment with the organization and a desire to play for a winning franchise.

Ayton has been part of a winning franchise before, offering a solid rim presence for the 2021 Phoenix Suns, who ultimately lost in the NBA Finals to the Milwaukee Bucks. He now joins the same Lakers team that pulled off the biggest trade in the league this past season when they acquired Luka Dončić from the Dallas Maverick. Los Angeles looks to have another season of LeBron James in its future as well.

Were other teams interested in DeAndre Ayton?

Yes. According to ESPN, the Indiana Pacers, New York Knicks, Los Angeles Clippers, Denver Nuggets, Milwaukee Bucks, and Cleveland Cavaliers had all expressed interest in Ayton.

The reason a deal was not stuck sooner was because it took a few days for Ayton to clear waivers after the buyout.

DeAndre Ayton stats

During the 2024-25 season, Ayton averaged 14.4 points and 10.2 rebounds per game across 40 contests. Ayton has played at least 40 games in every season he has played barring the shortened 2020 season. Furthermore, he is the first player since Dwight Howard to average over 10 points and 10 rebounds per game in each of his first seven seasons.

Ayton was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft. He is now paired with Dončić, who went third overall in that same draft. The Lakers are the third team for each player, considering Dončić was originally drafted by the Atlanta Hawks.

Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy had to be helped off the field after suffering a knee injury making a tag play in the sixth inning of his team’s game against the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday, July 2.

Muncy made an athletic play to apply a tag on Michael A. Taylor stealing third base, which was the second out in the inning. He crumbled near third base and was helped into the dugout after several minutes on the ground.

Taylor’s head hit Muncy’s left knee as the White Sox runner slid into third. Slow-motion replays showed Muncy’s leg bending in an unnatural manner. Enrique Hernandez came in to replace Muncy at third base.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told reporters after the game that Muncy would undergo an MRI the next day, and the team’s initial ‘hope’ was that it was a sprain.

This took place while Clayton Kershaw was at 2,999 career strikeouts, leaving the Dodgers standing around as the air exited the stadium. But the club legend managed to bounce back, striking out the next batter, Vinny Capra, to end the inning and become the 20th player in MLB history with 3,000 strikeouts.

The Dodgers rallied with three runs in the bottom of the ninth to win 5-4 on Freddie Freeman’s walk-off single.

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The former Detroit Pistons guard is under federal investigation for gambling and information regarding Beasley’s finances have come to light in the immediate aftermath. Beasley was in serious talks with the team to finalize a three-year, $42 million contract, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania, but that deal is now on hold.

Beasley is coming off a one-year, $6 million deal with the Pistons. It leaves the free agent’s NBA future up in the air, but brought something else into focus – Beasley’s financial struggles.

According to the records, the former Piston paid Rekar Jaff of Cairo Cuts, a Milwaukee area barbershop, $26,826.76. Hassan Alshehabi, a dentist at Delicate Smiles LLC on Silver Spring Drive, received $34,389.70.

Beasley’s wages were garnished by the Pistons to help pay back some of the debts.

The Bucks and Jaff declined the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s requests for comment, while Alshehabi and Beasley’s attorney, Steve Haney, were not immediately available for comment.

Records show that the guard was lent money from both businesses in 2024, when Beasley played for the Milwaukee Bucks.

Cairo Cuts lent Beasley $15,000 on March 23, 2024. On April 2, Cairo Cuts lent Beasley $1,000 and on April 3 lent him another $4,000.

On April 11, Beasley provided a ‘loan agreement and promissory note’ of $30,000 to Delicate Smiles, and the company provided a $20,000 advance to Beasley.

Then on April 24, Delicate Smiles gave a $10,000 advance to Beasley.

On April 30, Cairo Cuts lent Beasley $1,000. The next day, Cairo Cuts lent Beasley $9,000, and he gave the company another loan agreement and promissory note for $30,000.

Then on May 3, Delicate Smiles lent Beasley $1,000, followed by $2,000 on May 8 and $3,000 on May 12.

It comes on the heels of a report by the Detroit Free Press, part of the USA TODAY Network, that Beasley was sued in June by Paperclip Properties, a Detroit property manager, for non-payment of rent.

Hazan Sports Management Group, Beasley’s former agency, is another group that has a legal matter with the player. The agency sued him in April for breach of contract, saying Beasley did not pay back a $650,000 advance, instead sending ‘little more than drips and drabs of sporadic payments and vague promises to repay the balance over time.’

Beasley was previously suspended for 12 games by the league in 2021 for felony gun charges that also resulted in jail time.

The former Piston became the most recent NBA player involved in a gambling-related investigation. In January 2025, it was revealed that the Miami Heat’s Terry Rozier was being looked at for a series of curious bets placed on him during a March 2023 game when he played for the Charlotte Hornets.

Rozier was cleared of any wrongdoing in relation to the matter.

Former Toronto Raptors’ forward Jontay Porter was handed a lifetime ban from the league after he was discovered to be making prop bets on himself. He also revealed crucial information to bettors while also changing his level of play depending on the wagers.

For now, Beasley’s attorney is adamant about maintaining his client’s innocence – pointing out that he hasn’t been charged with anything yet.

Haney, Beasley’s attorney, said in a statement to ESPN: ‘An investigation is not a charge. Malik is afforded the same right of the presumption of innocence as anyone else under the U.S. Constitution. As of now he has not been charged with anything.”

The investigation remains ongoing.

Now that Clayton Kershaw has officially become the 20th pitcher in major league history to record 3,000 career strikeouts, baseball fans’ attention can turn to the question of who might be the next pitcher to join him.

Kershaw is now the third active member of MLB’s 3,000-strikeout club, along with Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer.

On the horizon though, only four current pitchers are even two-thirds of the way to the milestone.

So let’s take a look at some of the best strikeout pitchers in the game today and see how likely it is they’ll become part of that exclusive group.

Next closest to 3,000 strikeouts

Only four pitchers currently on MLB rosters have even surpassed 2,000 career strikeouts. Unfortunately, the top two are currently on the injured list, putting a halt to their climb up the leaderboard.

Chris Sale, Atlanta Braves (2,528 strikeouts)

Sale, 36, went on the injured list June 21 after suffering a fractured ribcage diving for a popup in a game against the New York Mets. He was later moved to the 60-day injured list, which means he can’t return until at least mid-August.

The reigning NL Cy Young award winner had continued to be one of the league’s best pitchers this season — with 114 strikeouts in 89 ⅓ innings (11.5 K/9). However, staying healthy has proved to be a challenge for Sale throughout his 16-year career.

At his current career rate of 11.1 strikeouts per nine innings as a starter (and his career average of 6.3 innings per start), Sale would need to make another 60 starts to get to 3,000. Assuming five more starts this season, Sale would be on pace to hit the milestone toward the end of the 2027 season at age 38.

Gerrit Cole, New York Yankees (2,251 strikeouts)

Cole, 34, is out for the season after undergoing reconstructive surgery on his right elbow in March. He’s expected to be able to resume throwing in September with an eye toward being ready for the start of the 2026 season. Pitchers have been able to come back from elbow surgery and have successful careers — Verlander was one who did it and won a Cy Young at age 39 – so it’s certainly possible Cole will make it to 3,000 strikeouts.

If he can maintain his career strikeout rate, Cole would need 106 more starts to hit 3K. If his recovery is successful, he could potentially get there during the 2029 season.

Charlie Morton, Baltimore Orioles (2,124 strikeouts)

At age 41, Morton is unlikely to make it to 3,000 – even though he has averaged 192.8 strikeouts a year over the past four full seasons. Even at that amazing pace, he’s still need to pitch until he’s 45 to get there.

Yu Darvish, San Diego Padres (2,007 strikeouts)

Probably the most surprising member of the 2K club, Darvish has yet to pitch this season as he works his way back from elbow inflammation he first developed this spring.

Since he began his pro career in Japan and only started pitching in MLB in 2012, Darvish, 38, probably doesn’t have enough time to get to 3,000 K’s. However, he did lead the majors in strikeouts with 277 in 2013.

Possible late-career surge

Aaron Nola, Philadelphia Phillies (1,671 strikeouts)

Of the 10 remaining pitchers at least halfway to 3,000, Nola, 32, has the best combination of accumulated strikeouts and potential production. However, he also is currently on the 60-day injured list with ankle and rib issues.

He’s averaged 9.9 strikeouts per nine innings over his 11-year career — one that has been largely injury free. Over the past six full MLB seasons, he’s averaged 203 strikeouts per year. At that pace, he would have needed almost seven full seasons to get to 3,000. This year’s injury seemingly would extend that into 2032 before he’d be able to reach 3,000 K’s.

Robbie Ray, San Francisco Giants (1,658 strikeouts)

Ray, 33, will likely pass the injured Nola sometime this month. He’s 20 months older, but has a better career whiff rate (11.0 K/9) than the Phillies star. In fact, Ray has the third highest strikeout rate in major league history of pitchers with at least 1,000 career innings.

However, he’s dealt with health issues over the past two seasons – pitching a total of 34 innings in 2023 and 2024 combined. Back in top form this season, the 2021 AL Cy Young winner would need to continue his historic whiff rate over another 200 starts to get to 3,000 strikeouts. So optimistically, 2032.

Too early to tell

The road to 3K is long and filled with obstacles. Even the most talented pitchers need to avoid catastrophic injuries and have lengthy careers to have a shot. But they all have to start somewhere and bat-missing talent is a good place to start.

Tarik Skubal, Detroit Tigers (786 strikeouts)

The defending AL Cy Young award winner just might be the most dominant pitcher in the game right now. He led the majors in strikouts last season with 228 and is just six behind Garrett Crochet’s 144 for the MLB lead this year.

Projecting his career over at least another decade is tricky, but let’s give it a shot. He’s whiffed 10.4 batters per nine innings over 120 major league starts, averaging 5.6 innings per start. At that pace, Skubal would need to make 344 more starts to reach 3,000 strikeouts.

He made a career-high 31 starts last season, so if he’s able to do that every year going forward … it would take Skubal until the second half of 2036 to hit the 3,000 mark.

Paul Skenes, Pittsburgh Pirates (285 strikeouts)

Just for kicks, let’s do last seasons’s NL Rookie of the Year. Now in his first full major league campaign, Skenes is just slighly ahead of Skubal in averaging 10.5 strikeouts per nine innings over his 41 big-league starts.

Needing just 2,715 more strikeouts to join the 3K club, Skenes would need to stay healthy and maintain his current pace for strikeouts and innings pitched per game for another 392 starts. Let’s be optimistic and say he makes 34 starts per season every year. That’s another 14 in 2025, plus 11 full seasons and another four starts in 2037.

Good luck fellas. Clayton will see ya’ in Cooperstown!

The Midsummer Classic is scheduled for Tuesday, July 15 at Truist Park in Atlanta, capping off a week of baseball festivities that include the Home Run Derby and 2025 MLB Draft.

The Detroit Tigers (Gleyber Torres, Riley Greene, Javier Báez) and Los Angeles Dodgers (Shohei Ohtani, Will Smith, Freddie Freeman) are the only teams with three players voted to start.

Aaron Judge and Ohtani had clinched starting spots as their respective league’s leading vote-getters after the first round of fan balloting.

The full All-Star rosters will be announced on Sunday, July 6, but the starting pitchers won’t be revealed until the day before the game by managers Aaron Boone (AL) and Dave Roberts (NL).

Here’s a look at the 2025 MLB All-Star Game starters:

American League All-Star Game starters

Catcher: Cal Raleigh, Mariners
First base: Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Blue Jays
Second base: Gleyber Torres, Tigers
Third base: José Ramírez, Guardians
Shortstop: Jacob Wilson, Athletics
Outfield: Aaron Judge, Yankees
Outfield: Javier Báez, Tigers
Outfield: Riley Greene, Tigers
Designated hitter: Ryan O’Hearn, Orioles

National League All-Star Game starters

Catcher: Will Smith, Dodgers
First base: Freddie Freeman, Dodgers
Second base: Ketel Marte, Diamondbacks
Third base: Manny Machado, Padres
Shortstop: Francisco Lindor, Mets
Outfield: Ronald Acuña Jr., Braves
Outfield: Pete Crow-Armstrong, Cubs
Outfield: Kyle Tucker, Cubs
Designated hitter: Shohei Ohtani, Dodgers

When will MLB All-Stars be announced?

Full rosters, including pitchers, will be announced Sunday, July 6 at 5 p.m. ET on ESPN.

Pitchers and reserves – 23 for each league with at least one representative from every team – will be determined by “Player Ballot” choices and the Commissioner’s Office.

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There are eight teams remaining in the FIFA Club World Cup as several traditional powerhouses will be joined by a few surprising entries into the quarterfinals.

The reigning UEFA Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain, the most popular soccer team worldwide in Real Madrid, German giants Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund, and English standouts Chelsea have expectedly reached this point.

The others – Brazilian clubs Fluminense and Palmeiras, and Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal – have brought awareness to themselves and their respective leagues by reaching the quarterfinal.

Let’s break down the four quarterfinal matchups on July 4 and 5, and rank how intriguing they’ll be/how much we want to watch them:

4. Real Madrid vs. Dortmund

When: July 5, 4 p.m. ET
Where to watch: TNT/TruTV/Univision/DAZN
BETMGM betting odds: Real Madrid (-160), Draw (+333), Dortmund (+375)

While you never know what could happen in a stage like the Club World Cup quarterfinals, Real Madrid has won the last four matchups in this series. The intrigue for a matchup we’ve seen before doesn’t strike the same as some of the others.

Kylian Mbappe is back, but how is new coach Xabi Alonso going to work him back into the front line with Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham? Here’s the reason why it’ll be tough: 21-year-old Gonzalo Garcia has scored three goals in four games, including the game winner against Juventus that punched Real Madrid’s ticket into the quarterfinals.

Alonso could use a rotation to keep his best players on the pitch, but it might be difficult to pull Garcia, Real Madrid’s breakout player at the Club World Cup, even with Mbappe – the French World Cup champion waiting in the wings.

Dortmund has three wins and a draw, like Real Madrid, at the Club World Cup. They were led by two goals from Serhou Guirassy to beat Monterrey 2-1 in the round of 16.

Sadly, this matchup won’t feature Bellingham facing his younger brother, Jobe, for Dortmund. The younger Bellingham is suspended due to yellow card accumulation and won’t play against Real Madrid.

3. Palmeiras vs. Chelsea

When: July 4, 9 p.m. ET
Where to watch: DAZN
BETMGM betting odds: Chelsea (+105), Draw (+230), Palmeiras (+275)

Is Chelsea’s time in the Club World Cup going to end thanks to a relatively unknown team? Or could we see a traditional power take care of business handily? The intrigue for an upset here is fascinating, but this is the third-best match to watch in the quarterfinals.

Chelsea was nearly on the brink of elimination when Argentine star Angel Di Maria of Benfica tied their Round-of-16 match to force extra time until Christopher Nkunku (108′), Pedro Neto (114′) and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall (117′) secured their quarterfinal berth.

Palmeiras reached the quarterfinal after beating fellow Brazilian side Botafogo, overcoming a club that beat them four of the last five times they played before the matchup.

Keep an eye on the No. 10s in this one: Chelsea’s Cole Palmer has been relatively quiet since he started the tournament wearing his new number, while Palmeiras’ Paulinho has come off the bench to score against Inter Miami and Botafogo.

2. Fluminense vs. Al-Hilal

When: July 4, 3 p.m. ET
Where to watch: TNT/TruTV/DAZN
BETMGM betting odds: Al-Hilal (+145), Fluminense (+175), Draw (+240)

This was supposed to be a quarterfinal between Inter Milan and Manchester City. Now, Fluminense and Al-Hilal have a chance to reach the semifinals. In a battle of relatively unknowns, this is the second-best matchup in the quarterfinals.

Al-Hilal is a Saudi Arabian club with international flair: Brazilian Marcos Leonardo scored two goals in their 4-3 win against Man City, celebrating his last by taking off his jersey, putting onto the corner flag, and waving it in the air after his game-winner in the 112th minute.

Brazil’s Malcom, Senegal’s Kalidou Koulibaly also scored against Man City, while Al-Hilal captain Salem Al-Dawsari is known for scoring the game-winner for Saudi Arabia against Lionel Messi and Argentina at the Qatar World Cup.

Meanwhile, Fluminense has had six different players score a goal during the Club World Cup, along with one of the best traveling fanbases in the tournament. Along with their 2-0 win against Inter, they played to a scoreless draw against another quarterfinalist, Dortmund in the group stage.

1. PSG vs. Bayern Munich

When: July 5, 12 p.m. ET
Where to watch: TNT/DAZN
BETMGM betting odds: PSG (+120), Bayern (+200), Draw (+270)

This will be the best matchup in the quarterfinals: The reigning Champions League winners, and the Bundesliga champions who have played like one of the best teams at the Club World Cup.

Harry Kane scored twice in the Round of 16, while Michael Olise scored three goals during the tournament for Bayern.

PSG lost to Botafogo in the group stage, but are back on track after a 4-0 win over Messi and Inter Miami in the last round. They also welcomed Ousmane Dembélé back into the lineup after he missed the group stage with a quadriceps injury.

Bayern has won the last four matchups against PSG, considered the best in the world at this moment. Can Bayern pull off another, or will PSG continue its recent dominance?

Welcome to the 3,000 career strikeout club, Clayton Kershaw.

In the sixth inning of an interleague game against the Chicago White Sox at Dodgers Stadium in Los Angeles, the 6-foot-4 veteran southpaw struck out Vinny Capra looking to unlock perhaps the greatest achievement of his Hall of Fame-bound resume and career.

The World Series champion is the 20th pitcher in MLB history to reach one of baseball’s hardest feats. He entered the night three strikeouts away from joining the 3,000 club,

His first strikeout of the night came in the third inning when White Sox first baseman Miguel Vargas went down swinging at a curveball in the top of the third inning. Second baseman Lenyn Sosa struck out swinging on a curveball in the top of the fifth and Capra struck out looking on a slider in the sixth.

The three-time National League Cy Young winner is the first pitcher to join the exclusive 3,000 career strikeout club since Max Scherzer did so vs. the San Diego Padres in 2021 when he was a teammate of Kershaw’s following a trade deadline move by the Dodgers from the Washington Nationals.

Noted by USA TODAY Sports’ Bob Nightengale, Kershaw’s first career strikeout came on May 25, 2008 against then-St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Skip Schumaker at Dodger Stadium. Kershaw would strike out seven Cardinals hitters that night in six innings of work where he gave up just two runs on five hits and a walk.

‘I figured I was going to ambush him and welcome him to the big leagues,’ Schumaker told USA TODAY Sports. ‘The first pitch was an elevated fastball. It was harder and faster than I thought, and I swung and missed. Then he threw a curveball. It was something different. It was like nothing I had ever seen before.’

Watch Clayton Kershaw record career strikeout 3,000 vs. White Sox

Here’s a look at Kershaw’s 3,000th career strikeout in the sixth inning at Dodgers Stadium against Vinny Capra on July 2:

MLB pitchers with 3,000 strikeouts

Note: Ordered in numerical order of career strikeouts

Nolan Ryan: 5,714 career strikeouts
Randy Johnson: 4,875 career strikeouts
Roger Clemens: 4,672 career strikeouts
Steve Carlton: 4,136 career strikeouts
Bert Blyleven: 3,701 career strikeouts
Tom Seaver: 3,640 career strikeouts
Don Sutton: 3,574 career strikeouts
Gaylord Perry: 3,534 career strikeouts
Walter Johnson: 3,515 career strikeouts
Justin Verlander: 3,416 career strikeouts
Max Scherzer: 3,407 career strikeouts
Greg Maddux: 3,371 career strikeouts
Phil Nierko: 3,342 career strikeouts
Fergie Jackson: 3,192 career strikeouts
Pedro Martinez: 3,154 career strikeouts
Bob Gibson: 3,117 career strikeouts
Curt Schilling: 3,116 career strikeouts
CC Sabathia: 3,093 career strikeouts
John Smoltz: 3,084 career strikeouts
Clayton Kershaw: 3,000 career strikeouts

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LOS ANGELES – Clayton Kershaw has joined an exclusive club.

The longtime Los Angeles Dodgers ace is the 20th pitcher in baseball history to strike out 3,000 batters.

Kershaw, a 37-year-old lefty, reached the milestone when he struck out Vinny Capra of the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday, July 2 at Dodger Stadium.

A 10-time All-Star and three-time Cy Young winner, Kershaw entered the game with 2,997 strikeouts. Kershaw didn’t register a strikeout in the first two innings, but got Miguel Vargas swinging for the first out in the third. But Kershaw struggled through those first three innings, giving up four runs including Austin Slater’s two-run homer in the third.

He didn’t strike anybody out in the fourth inning either, heading to the fifth at 80 pitches, adding drama to what was expected to be a coronation.

Kershaw got Lenyn Sosa for strikeout No. 2,999 to end the fifth, but was then at 92 pitches. Manager Dave Roberts sent Kershaw back out for the sixth. With two outs – after third baseman Max Muncy was injured applying a tag at third base – Kershaw struck out Vinny Capra looking for the magical No. 3,000.

He becomes the fourth left-handed pitcher to join the 3,000 strikeout club, joining Steve Carlton, Randy Johnson and CC Sabathia. Kershaw is only the second player to accomplish the feat all with one club, following in the footsteps of Walter Johnson and Bob Gibson.

Kershaw gave up four runs in six innings, picking up No. 3000 on his 100th pitch of the night. He was on the hook for the loss until the Dodgers rallied to win on Freddie Freeman’s walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth.

On May 25, 2008, Kershaw struck out his first batter as a 20-year-old rookie making his major-league  debut with the Dodgers. The strikeouts began to pile up as his 18-year career has unfolded.

He led the National League in strikeouts three times – 2011, 2013 and 2015 – and he recorded a career-high 301 in 2015.

Nolan Ryan holds the all-time record with 5,714 strikeouts.

Before Kershaw’s history-making start, Roberts said the club icon had this milestone in mind when he decided to come back for an 18th season.

“He loves competing,’’ Roberts said. “Certainly wants to see it all the way through October and be a viable integral part in this season. … I think that to be able to come back and essentially go out on his own terms is important and not many people get that opportunity.’’

Said Roberts: ‘It’s the last box for Clayton to check in his tremendous career.”

Clayton Kershaw’s wife, family celebrate 3,000th strikeout

Dodgers game paused to honor Clayton Kershaw hitting 3,000 strikeouts

There will be no penalty – or complaint – for this delay of game. The Dodgers paused the action a few minutes after Kershaw recorded strikeout No. 3,000. After joining his teammates in the dugout, Kershaw came back onto the field and acknowledged the cheering fans.

He also pointed to his family, as the video boards congratulated Kershaw on ‘3,000 STRIKEOUTS.’

Kershaw gets No. 2,999 in the fifth

Kershaw got Lenyn Sosa swinging to end a scoreless fifth inning for strikeout No. 2,999, but is at 92 pitches through five innings. Will Dave Roberts send him back out to start the sixth?

White Sox not cooperating for Kershaw

The chances of Kershaw notching his 3,000th strikeout tonight are dimming. He needs only two, but he’s already thrown 80 pitches through four innings and the White Sox are not cooperating.

In the fourth, he got two a two-strike count for the 12th time of the night, but the White Sox refused to whiff. They also failed to get a hit or run – but maintained a 4-2 lead over the Dodgers. 

Kershaw notches strikeout No. 2,998

Never mind Kershaw that gave up a two-run homer to Austin Slater to put the White Sox up 3-2. The Dodgers crowd roared when Kershaw struck out the next batter, Michael Vargas for No. 2,998.

Kershaw gave up a total of three runs and four hits before getting out of the inning. The game heads to the bottom of the third with the White Sox leading 4-2 and Kershaw needing two more, already at 63 pitches through three.

This is beginning to feel like one of Kershaw’s postseason debacles.

Kershaw settles down in second: Still no strikeouts

After struggling in the first first inning, Kershaw retired the White Sox players in order in the second inning – but none on strikeouts. Kershaw got Vinny Capra to ground out to short to end the frame.

Kershaw got out of the inning with 10 pitches, increasing his total to 39 through two innings.

Clayton Kershaw off to rocky start and remains at 2,997

Clayton Kershaw labored through a first inning that ended without a strikeout and with him wiping his brow in relief.

He faced six White Sox batters and gave up a run on three hits. Dodgers left fielder Michael Conforto contained the damage when he made a leaping catch at the wall for the third out. Kershaw threw 29 pitches in the first inning, 19 for strikes.

Catcher Will Smith hit a home run in the bottom of the first to tie the game at one.

Is Clayton Kershaw the greatest Dodgers pitcher ever?

Before the game, Roberts was asked if Kershaw is the greatest pitcher in Dodgers history. In other words: is Kershaw better than Dodgers pitching legends Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale?

“That’s a tough one,’ Roberts said, indicating he had not compared the three pitchers’ accomplishments. But then he referenced Kershaw’s 18-year career.

“It’s hard to not say Clayton is the greatest Dodger (pitcher) of all time, as far as you’re talking about body of work. … Yeah, he’s a unicorn.’

Clayton Kershaw’s first strikeout victim remembers debut

The Cardinals didn’t have any tape of the 20-year-old kid who was going to make his major-league debut on May 25, 2008. No one had any scouting reports. No one faced him in the minors. So, they began asking each other if anyone knew anything about the Dodgers’ prized prospect.

Skip Schumaker was leading off for the Cardinals and stepped to the plate with a game plan.

“I figured I was going to ambush him and welcome him to the big leagues,’ Schumaker told USA TODAY Sports. “The first pitch was an elevated fastball. It was harder and faster than I thought, and I swung and missed. Then he threw a curveball. It was something different. It was like nothing I had ever seen before.

“And then, well, I struck out.’

Schumaker finished his career 0-for-7 against Kershaw with six strikeouts – and grounded into a double play.

“Clayton Kershaw,’ Schumaker says, “is the most dominant pitcher I’ve ever played against in my career. I’ve never seen anybody like him.”

– Bob Nightengale

How many strikeouts does Clayton Kershaw have?

Kershaw enters his start on July 2 with 2,997 career strikeouts – in 2,781 ⅓ innings.

White Sox lineup vs. Kershaw

Chase Meidroth (R) SS
Austin Slater (R) LF
Miguel Vargas (R) 1B
Andrew Benintendi (L) DH
Edgar Quero (S) C
Lenyn Sosa (R) 2B
Mike Tauchman (L) RF
Michael A. Taylor (R) CF
Vinny Capra (R) 3B

Dodgers lineup tonight

Shohei Ohtani (L) DH
Mookie Betts (R) SS
Will Smith (R) C
Freddie Freeman (L) 1B
Andy Pages (R) RF
Max Muncy (L) 3B
Michael Conforto (L) LF
Tommy Edman (S) CF
Hyeseong Kim (L) 2B

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