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MLB Power Rankings: Top 25 players in the game today

By Joshua Sadlock

ANAHEIM, CA - MAY 02: Mike Trout #27 of the Los Angeles Angels reacts to his solo homerun for a 1-1 tie with the Baltimore Orioles during the first inning at Angel Stadium on May 2, 2018 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
ANAHEIM, CA - MAY 02: Mike Trout #27 of the Los Angeles Angels reacts to his solo homerun for a 1-1 tie with the Baltimore Orioles during the first inning at Angel Stadium on May 2, 2018 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CA – APRIL 20: Clayton Kershaw #22 of the Los Angeles Dodgers on the mound in the first inning against the Washington Nationalsat Dodger Stadium on April 20, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – APRIL 20: Clayton Kershaw #22 of the Los Angeles Dodgers on the mound in the first inning against the Washington Nationalsat Dodger Stadium on April 20, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images) /

5. Clayton Kershaw

When his career is all said and done, there is a good chance that Clayton Kershaw will go down as the greatest pitcher in baseball’s modern history. Sandy Koufax has the legendary status in Los Angeles Dodgers lore, but Kershaw has already put together a better resume than the Hall of Famer. That’s taking nothing away from Koufax, who may have had his own shot at being remembered as the best pitcher ever robbed by elbow injuries.

Kershaw is MLB’s leader in every meaningful pitching statistic dating back to his first full season in 2009. He has five ERA titles, three strikeout crowns and has led the league in wins and shutouts three times. Kershaw has also carried a sub-2.00 ERA dating back over 1,000 innings of work. He is also the all-time leader in ERA+ for starting pitchers.

The only thing to hold against the Dodgers ace is his lack of success in the postseason, and even that narrative is overdone. Many of his peripheral statistics in the playoffs are just as good, if not better than his regular-season numbers. Kershaw’s ERA has been inflated by repeated bullpen meltdowns that occurred after he left the game. A better bullpen would have made it possible for Kershaw to exit the game after six innings instead of soldiering on after an already long season.

Injuries have cut short both of Kershaw’s last two seasons, but he is still MLB’s undisputed king of the mound. The Dodgers will have to prepare to open up the checkbook for their left-hander after the season when he can exercise the opt-out clause in his contract.

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