Dave Roberts, the Los Angeles Dodgers’ manager for a decade, is laser-focused on securing a second consecutive World Series title in 2025, fresh off their 2024 triumph over the Yankees. With two championships in the last five years and a new contract extension making him MLB’s highest-paid manager, Roberts has built a powerhouse by recruiting stars like Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto. But his faith in veteran pitcher Clayton Kershaw, a Dodgers icon, remains a cornerstone of his vision, as he expressed in a recent interview with MLB.com on May 18, 2025.
Roberts didn’t hold back in praising Kershaw, comparing him to Dodgers legend Sandy Koufax and calling him a “modern-day” version of the Hall of Famer. “When he gets out there, he’s just an absolute beast,” Roberts said. “I do believe that he is the modern day Sandy Koufax, where there is no self-promotion. He doesn’t want any media. But obviously, being a great pitcher, first ballot Hall of Famer, he’s going to get it.” Kershaw, with 2,970 career strikeouts, is just 30 shy of the historic 3,000-strikeout milestone—a mark reached by only 19 pitchers in MLB history. Roberts is confident Kershaw will hit it soon, adding, “I can’t wait to see him get back out on the mound and watch that compete.”
Kershaw’s 2025 debut on May 17 against the Angels was rocky—he gave up 5 earned runs in 4 innings, walking 3 and striking out 2, as the Dodgers fell 7-3. Despite the rough outing, Roberts saw positives, noting, “I thought the velocity was more than it’s been in quite some time. At times, the slider was good, the curveball was good, he mixed in a lot of changeups.” Kershaw’s season stats, however, show he’s only managed 2 strikeouts in that lone start, meaning he’ll need at least 28 more across his remaining outings to reach 3,000 this year—a tall order given his injury history and limited innings in recent seasons.
The Dodgers, sitting atop the Week 7 MLB power rankings with a 29-14 record, remain a juggernaut despite a depleted pitching staff—over a dozen arms are on the injured list, per recent reports. Kershaw’s return is a boost, but his milestone chase adds extra intrigue as the team eyes another deep playoff run. Roberts’ comparison to Koufax, who also battled injuries late in his career but retired with 2,396 strikeouts and three Cy Youngs, underscores Kershaw’s legacy as a humble, fierce competitor. With Kershaw chasing history and Roberts steering the ship, Dodgers fans have plenty to root for in 2025.
