In 2011, he won the pitching Triple Crown and the NL Cy Young Award, becoming the youngest pitcher to accomplish either of these feats since Dwight Gooden in 1985.

[4] Despite his great regular season performances, however, Kershaw has struggled and been inconsistent during the postseason, with a 4.49 earned run average in 194.1 innings pitched over 39 appearances, 32 of which were starts.

He and his wife Ellen launched "Kershaw's Challenge" and wrote the book Arise: Live Out Your Faith and Dreams on Whatever Field You Find Yourself to raise money to build an orphanage in Zambia.

[7][8] Kershaw attended nearby Highland Park High School, where he played baseball and was also the center for future NFL quarterback Matthew Stafford on the varsity football team.

[23] On August 6, he was promoted to the Double-A Jacksonville Suns in the Southern League,[24] where he produced a 1–2 record and 3.65 ERA in five starts[25] and was selected as the top prospect in the Dodgers organization heading into the 2008 season.

[38] On April 15, 2009, Kershaw pitched seven innings, striking out 13 batters while allowing only one hit (a solo home run) against the rival San Francisco Giants.

[48] On May 29, he pitched the second complete-game shutout of his career, striking out 10 while winning a two-hitter against the Florida Marlins; he also had two singles and an RBI, scoring twice in the game.

[55] Throughout the season, Kershaw pitched opposite two-time Cy Young Award winner and three-time defending NL strikeout leader Tim Lincecum of the San Francisco Giants in four particularly memorable matchups.

[65] Kershaw was the Dodgers' Opening Day starter for a second consecutive year, where he pitched three innings of shutout ball against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park before being removed from the game due to flu-like symptoms.

He was the first pitcher to throw a shutout and hit a home run on opening day since Bob Lemon of the Cleveland Indians did so against the Chicago White Sox on April 14, 1953.

[80] He was the third player in history to lead the major leagues in ERA in three consecutive years, joining Greg Maddux (1993–95) and Lefty Grove (1929–31).

The deal was the richest in MLB history for a pitcher, eclipsing the seven-year, $180 million, contract signed by Justin Verlander the previous year.

[111] Kershaw did not make the initial NL roster for the 2015 All-Star Game, though he was included on the Final Vote ballot, which he lost to Cardinals pitcher Carlos Martinez.

[1] In Game One of the 2015 National League Division Series, Kershaw struck out 11 in 6+2⁄3 innings but allowed three runs for his fifth straight postseason loss.

[119] Kershaw finished third in the National League Cy Young Award voting, placing behind teammate Zack Greinke and eventual winner Jake Arrieta.

[146] Although he received criticism after this start for his continued postseason struggles, the later revelation of the Houston Astros sign stealing scandal as a possible factor has complicated assessments of his performance in this game.

[148] Kershaw was selected as a starting pitcher on Baseball America's All-MLB Team[149] and finished second in the NL Cy Young Award voting.

[1] In a surprising move, Dave Roberts chose Hyun-jin Ryu to pitch the Dodgers' first playoff game of the 2018 NLDS against the Atlanta Braves.

In the eighth inning, Kershaw allowed home runs on back-to-back pitches to Anthony Rendon and Juan Soto to surrender a 3–1 lead, and the Nationals won the game and the series.

[1] He started the second game of the wild card series against the Milwaukee Brewers and threw eight scoreless innings while only allowing three hits and striking out 13.

[176] He allowed only one run in six innings in the game while striking out eight, in the process passing John Smoltz for second place all-time in postseason strikeouts with 201.

[180] He remained in the rotation until July 7, when he was placed on the injured list with left forearm inflammation, the first time in his career he had gone on the IL with an arm injury.

[187] On April 30, Kershaw set the Dodgers franchise strikeout record, striking out Spencer Torkelson of the Detroit Tigers to move past Don Sutton.

[207] On August 12, Kershaw got his first win of the season against the Brewers, where he pitched 5+2⁄3 innings, giving up three hits and one earned run, while striking out six batters.

[221][222] Kershaw made a cameo appearance in "Prince", a Season 3 episode of New Girl that originally aired following FOX's telecast of Super Bowl XLVIII.

With a then-career-high of 248 strikeouts thrown during the 2011 season, combined with additional donations through his Kershaw's Challenge organization, the initial $70,000 goal - later increased to $100,000 - was exceeded.

[244] In mid-December 2015, Kershaw participated in an expedition to Cuba composed of MLB officials and players, including former Dodgers manager Joe Torre.

It was the first visit by MLB since 1999 and one anticipated as an important step to help normalize relations with the United States that had begun to ease earlier in the year.

[247] He is also a supporter of the Peacock Foundation, which provides animal-assisted interventions and activities for at-risk youth by partnering with mental health practitioners, public service agencies and community organizations.

The tournament raises money for Kershaw's Challenge and features past and present members of the Dodgers, high-profile celebrities, and team sponsors.