Is Clayton Kershaw the best lefthanded pitcher of all time? Rankings by WAR. Casey L. Moore, USA TODAY September 18, 2025 at 6:01 PM 0 Los Angeles Dodgers longtime ace Clayton Kershaw announced Thursday, Sept. 18 that the 2025 season will be the last of his 18year career.
- - Is Clayton Kershaw the best left-handed pitcher of all time? Rankings by WAR.
Casey L. Moore, USA TODAY September 18, 2025 at 6:01 PM
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Los Angeles Dodgers longtime ace Clayton Kershaw announced Thursday, Sept. 18 that the 2025 season will be the last of his 18-year career.
Kershaw was selected by the Dodgers in the first round of the 2006 draft and played his whole career in L.A., where he racked up 222 wins, 3,039 strikeouts, three Cy Young Awards, two World Series titles and the 2014 National League MVP.
But where does the lefty land among the best southpaw starters of all-time? Here are the top 10 left-handed pitchers, by WAR, according to Baseball Reference:
Clayton Kershaw (2008-present) - 3,039 strikeouts (through Sept. 13, 2025 start)
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Clayton Kershaw (2008-present) - 3,039 strikeouts (through Sept. 13, 2025 start)
">Clayton Kershaw (2008-present) - 3,039 strikeouts (through Sept. 13, 2025 start)
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Max Scherzer (2008-present) - 3,482 strikeouts (through Sept. 13, 2025 start)
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Max Scherzer (2008-present) - 3,482 strikeouts (through Sept. 13, 2025 start)
">Max Scherzer (2008-present) - 3,482 strikeouts (through Sept. 13, 2025 start)
" src=https://ift.tt/9IMbFaz class=caas-img>Justin Verlander (2005-present) - 3,543 strikeouts (through Sept. 17, 2025 start)
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Justin Verlander (2005-present) - 3,543 strikeouts (through Sept. 17, 2025 start)
">Justin Verlander (2005-present) - 3,543 strikeouts (through Sept. 17, 2025 start)
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1 / 20Clayton Kershaw and the 3,000 strikeout club
Clayton Kershaw (2008-present) - 3,039 strikeouts (through Sept. 13, 2025 start)
Best left-handed pitchers of all-time, by WAR1. Lefty Grove -
WAR: 113.2
Years played: 1925–1941
Teams: Philadelphia Athletics, Boston Red Sox
Stats: 300 wins, 3.06 ERA, 2,266 strikeouts in 3,940⅔ innings
Accolades: AL MVP in 1931, won ERA title nine times
2. Randy Johnson -
WAR: 103.5
Years played: 1988-2009
Teams: Montreal Expos, Seattle Mariners, Houston Astros, Arizona Diamondbacks, New York Yankees, San Francisco Giants
Stats: 303 wins, 3.29 ERA, 4,875 strikeouts in 4,135⅓ innings
Accolades: Five-time Cy Young Award winner, World Series MVP in 2001
3. Warren Spahn -
WAR: 92.6
Years played: 1942-65
Teams: Braves, New York Mets, San Francisco Giants
Stats: 363 wins, 3.09 ERA, 2,583 strikeouts, 5,243⅔ innings
Accolades: 1957 Cy Young Award winner, 17-time All-Star
4. Eddie Plank -
WAR: 88.0
Years played: 1901-1917
Teams: Philadelphia Athletics, St. Louis Browns
Stats: 326 wins, 2.35 ERA, 2,246 strikeouts, 4,495⅔ innings
Accolades: Three-time World Series champion.
5. Steve Carlton -
WAR: 84.1
Years played:
Teams: Philadelphia Phillies, St. Louis Cardinals, Minnesota Twins, Cleveland, Chicago White Sox, San Francisco Giants
Stats: 329 wins, 3.22 ERA, 4,136 strikeouts, 5,217⅔ innings
Accolades: Four-time Cy Young Award winner, two-time World Series champion
6. Clayton Kershaw
Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw (22) delivers a pitch against the Giants in the first inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Sept. 13, 2025. -
WAR: 77.9 (as of Sept. 18, 2025)
Years played: 2008-2025
Teams: Los Angeles Dodgers
Stats: 222 wins, 2.54 ERA, 3,039 strikeouts, 2844⅔ innings
Accolades: Three-time Cy Young Award winners, 2014 NL MVP, five-time ERA title, two-time World Series champion
7. Tom Glavine -
WAR: 74.0
Years played: 1987-2008
Teams: Atlanta Braves, New York Mets
Stats: 305 wins, 3.54 ERA, 2,607 strikeouts, 4,413⅓ innings
Accolades: Two-time Cy Young winner, five-time league leader in wins, 10-time All-Star, World Series MVP in 1995
8. Carl Hubbell -
WAR: 68.8
Years played: 1928-1943
Teams: New York Giants
Stats: 253 wins, 2.98 ERA, 1,677 strikeouts, 3,590⅓ innings
Accolades: NL MVP in 1933 and 1936, nine-time All-Star, three-time ERA title, World Series winner
9. Tommy John -
WAR: 62.1
Years played: 1963-1989
Teams: New York Yankees, Los Angeles Dodgers, Chicago White Sox, Cleveland, California Angels, Oakland Athletics
Stats: 288 wins, 3.34 ERA, 2,245 strikeouts, 4,710⅓ innings
Accolades: Four-time All-Star, three-time league leader in shutouts
10. CC Sabathia -
WAR: 61.8
Years played: 2001-2019
Teams: Cleveland, Milwaukee Brewers, New York Yankees
Stats: 251 wins, 3.74 ERA, 3,093 strikeouts, 3,577⅓ innings
Accolades: 2007 Cy Young winner, six-time All-Star, two-time league leader in wins, four-time league leader in shutouts, 2009 ALCS MVP, World Series winner
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Who is the best left-handed pitchers in MLB history? Ranking by WAR.
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