Los Angeles Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw fired back at the St. Louis Cardinals for their pregame antics on June 8, 2025, before leading his team to a 7-3 victory at Busch Stadium. The Cardinals played a 2014 playoff video showcasing Matt Carpenter’s three-run homer off Kershaw, a move the 37-year-old pitcher called “bush league.”
“I think it’s a little bush league, but I’m not surprised by these guys,” Kershaw told reporters postgame, per MLB.com. Despite the jab, he stayed composed, tossing five innings, allowing one run, and striking out seven to notch his first win of 2025.
The video, highlighting St. Louis’ elimination of the Dodgers in 2014, didn’t faze Kershaw. He leaned into the challenge, delivering a stellar performance. The Dodgers’ offense erupted for seven runs, sparked by a triple from Hyeseong Kim, avoiding a series sweep and improving to 39-15. Manager Dave Roberts praised Kershaw as a “stopper” and future Hall of Famer, noting his clutch mentality.
Kershaw’s outing was critical amid the Dodgers’ pitching crisis, with 17 of their 20 injured players being pitchers, including Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow, and Roki Sasaki. After a rough season debut following knee and toe surgeries, Kershaw showed improved command against St. Louis, proving vital for a rotation in disarray.
The Cardinals (36-12), a formidable NL foe, set the stage for heated future matchups. Kershaw’s ability to turn irritation into dominance has fans buzzing on social media platforms like X. As the Dodgers face the Padres next, can Kershaw keep leading the charge? Follow the action for more MLB drama!