LA Dodgers All-Stars of the Kershaw Era

Source: https://www.mlb.com/news/dodgers-kershaw-era-all-star-team-picks

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LA Dodgers All-Stars of the Kershaw Era Roster Starting Lineup

1. DH - Shohei Ohtani (2024): 1.036 OPS, 54 HR, 59 SB, 9.2 WAR 2. 2B - Mookie Betts (2023): .987 OPS, 39 HR, 126 Runs, 8.6 WAR 3. RF - Cody Bellinger (2019): 1.035 OPS, 47 HR, 115 RBIs, 8.7 WAR 4. CF - Matt Kemp (2011): .986 OPS, 39 HR, 40 SB, 8.0 WAR 5. 1B - Freddie Freeman (2023): .976 OPS, 211 Hits, 592 Total Bases, 6.8 WAR 6. 3B - Justin Turner (2017): .945 OPS, .322 BA, .415 OBP, 5.8 WAR 7. SS - Corey Seager (2016): .877 OPS, 26 HR, .512 SLG, 5.3 WAR 8. LF - Teoscar Hernández (2024): .840 OPS, 33 HR, 99 RBIs, 4.3 WAR 9. C - Will Smith (2025): .901 OPS, .404 OBP, .497 SLG, 4.5 WAR

Just looking at this lineup makes any pitcher, maybe even Kershaw himself, break out in a cold sweat. It includes NL MVPs Ohtani (who recorded the first 50 HR-50 SB season in MLB history) and Bellinger. Kemp narrowly finished second behind Ryan Braun, which was a shame, but he totally deserved the MVP, and Betts and Freeman finished 2nd and 3rd, respectively, behind Ronald Acuña Jr. in 2023.

Meanwhile, Seager stood out by winning the NL Rookie of the Year in 2016 when he was just 22. Turner, a core player in the Kershaw era, had his best season in 2017, just three years after the team rescued him from being a baseball castaway.

You know how absolutely stacked this lineup is when you have a slugger with 33 homers and a guy rocking a .404 OBP (plus, he’s a World Series hero!) anchoring the top and bottom of the order.

The Bench

* C - Russell Martin (2008): .781 OPS, .385 OBP, 18 SB, 3.9 WAR * INF - Max Muncy (2019): .889 OPS, 35 HR, 98 RBIs, 5.3 WAR * INF - Trea Turner (2022): .809 OPS, 21 HR, 27 SB, 5.2 WAR * OF - Yasiel Puig (2013): .925 OPS, .319 BA, .534 SLG, 4.7 WAR * UT - Chris Taylor (2017): .850 OPS, 21 HR, 17 SB, 4.5 WAR

All these guys were totally good enough to be starters, but sadly they didn't make the cut. Martin was the catcher for Kershaw’s MLB debut on May 25, 2008. Muncy’s 209 home runs are the most by a Dodger in the Kershaw era, and 2019 was one of his four seasons where he hit 35 or 36 dingers. Trea Turner only played one full season in LA after joining the Dodgers at the 2021 trade deadline before leaving for Philly in free agency, but he was seriously impressive in that short time.

Starting Pitchers

1. LHP - Clayton Kershaw (2014): 1.77 ERA, 239 K’s, 7.7 WAR 2. RHP - Zack Greinke (2015): 1.66 ERA, 200 K’s, 8.9 WAR 3. RHP - Walker Buehler (2021): 2.47 ERA, 212 K’s, 7.1 WAR 4. LHP - Hyun-Jin Ryu (2019): 2.32 ERA, 6.8 K/BB, 5.1 WAR 5. RHP - Yoshinobu Yamamoto (2025): 2.49 ERA, 201 K’s, 4.9 WAR

Duh, Kershaw obviously has to lead the Kershaw Era Dodgers All-Star starting rotation. The only real question was which Kershaw season to pick. While there were several strong candidates for his best season, including 2013 and 2015, the MVP season simply had to be the choice. Kershaw briefly shared the rotation with Greg Maddux in 2008 and Max Scherzer in 2021, but they didn't make this list. Greinke, who might be heading to Cooperstown with Kershaw someday, had that sick 45⅔-inning scoreless streak in 2015. Greinke (2nd), Ryu (2nd), Yamamoto (3rd), and Buehler (4th) were all Cy Young candidates, and Yamamoto snagged the last rotation spot after crushing the competition thanks to his legendary postseason performance this year.

Bullpen