In his last 88 starts, a stretch that dates back to May 2014, Clayton Kershaw has struck out at least four batters in every single appearance. Thus in all likelihood, when he faces the Brewers on Friday at Miller Park, he will become the third-fastest pitcher in baseball history to record 2,000 strikeouts.
Kershaw enters the evening with 1,996 strikeouts in 1,836 innings. Only Pedro Martinez (1,715 1/3 innings) and Randy Johnson (1,734) reached the milestone in quicker fashion, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. Nolan Ryan (1,874) will fall to fourth place.