the k is for kershaw kountdown continues - rain delay interruptus edition!

clayton kershaw made his second appearance of the 2025 season last friday night at citi field against the mets. he was coming off a rusty debut performance against the angels, and i was looking forward to seeing him make this start, presumably without any jitters that he might have been feeling in his debut. there was a significant rain delay early on, but the game resumed and was completed so i am pleased to be able to post another edition of the k is for kershaw kountdown as we track his progress to the 3,000 strikeout milestone.

kershaw pitched just two innings before the rain came, striking out one for his third k of the season. that strikeout raised his career strikeout total to 2,971. 

in honor of his performance, here is a card (technically) not seen on this blog before cards from my collection to represent strikeout number 2,971.

2,971 - 2009 upper deck spectrum red #/250

i said that this card has technically not been seen on this blog before because this particular card is actually an upgrade for me. i received the card initially from sluggo, but it was damaged by the post office during delivery. i wound up sending that card to fuji because of his affinity for leftys and his damaged card pc after i acquired this version.

kershaw's strikeout came against brandon nimmo, who was caught looking for the second out of the second inning. in his two innings of work, kershaw gave up no runs while facing the minimum six batters, with a walk erased by a double play. 

here's a non-kershaw card - it's manny ramirez's red parallel from 2009 ud spectrum

i may have purchased these two cards together. i am still missing the russell martin and greg maddux red parallels from my team set, however.

kershaw remains in 21st place on the all-time leader board, and he will remain there until he passes zack greinke. greinke has a career strikeout total of 2,979, and so kershaw is now 8 k's behind greinke and 29 away from the 3,000 milestone. 

kershaw should be back on the mound to close out the road trip in cleveland next wednesday. know that when he makes his next start, i will be back to update the kountdown soon thereafter. stay tuned!