A Golden Era in Dodger Blue: Remembering the Greinke-Kershaw Years
It was a brief moment, but was it ever glorious!
LOS ANGELES — There are certain combinations in baseball history that just feel iconic—duos who not only dominate on the field but elevate the standard for excellence. For Dodgers fans, one of those legendary pairings came during a magical stretch from 2013 to 2015, when Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke stood atop the rotation as two of the best pitchers on the planet.
With the recent news that Kershaw has officially passed Greinke for 20th on the all-time MLB strikeout list, now is the perfect moment to look back on those three unforgettable years when both aces wore Dodger blue and redefined what dominance looked like in the modern game.
Building a Superstaff
Zack Greinke joined the Dodgers in December 2012, signing a six-year, $147 million contract—the largest ever for a right-handed pitcher at the time. He arrived with a Cy Young already under his belt and a reputation as one of the smartest pitchers in baseball, both analytically and instinctively.
Clayton Kershaw, meanwhile, was already entrenched as the ace of the staff. By the time Greinke joined him, Kershaw had won his first Cy Young and was widely viewed as the best left-handed pitcher in the game.
Together, they created the kind of 1-2 punch most teams only dream of. Greinke’s meticulous, cerebral approach perfectly complemented Kershaw’s electric stuff and fiery competitiveness. They were opposites in style and personality, but utterly aligned in purpose.
Dominance by the Numbers
From 2013 to 2015, the Dodgers led the National League in team ERA every year. Unsurprisingly, Kershaw and Greinke were a huge reason why.
Clayton Kershaw (2013–2015):
- Record: 53-20
- ERA: 1.92
- Strikeouts: 727
- WHIP: 0.91
- 2 Cy Young Awards, 1 MVP
Zack Greinke (2013–2015):
- Record: 51-15
- ERA: 2.30
- Strikeouts: 555
- WHIP: 1.03
- 3 All-Star appearances
Each year, the two pitchers pushed one another to be better. Kershaw was the first to break through in 2013, leading the league in ERA for the third straight season and winning his second Cy Young Award. In 2014, he went supernova: 21-3, 1.77 ERA, 239 strikeouts, and the National League MVP award—a feat almost unheard of for a pitcher in the modern era.
Then came 2015, Greinke’s masterpiece. While Kershaw posted yet another 300-strikeout season with a 2.13 ERA, it was Greinke who led the league with a microscopic 1.66 ERA—still one of the best single-season marks in the last 50 years. He finished second in the Cy Young race, just behind Jake Arrieta, though many Dodger fans still believe he deserved the award.
Together, the pair combined for a 104-35 record and a cumulative 2.11 ERA across three seasons. Their consistency was unmatched. When Kershaw took the mound, opponents were overmatched. When Greinke followed the next day, they had no relief. For fans, it meant every series opened with a real chance to win two out of three—and sometimes sweep.
October Frustrations
The one thing that eluded the Greinke-Kershaw era was postseason glory. Despite their regular-season dominance, the Dodgers never made it past the NLCS during that stretch.
In 2013, the Dodgers lost to the Cardinals in the NLCS, with Kershaw taking two hard-luck losses—including a disastrous Game 6. Greinke, meanwhile, pitched well in both of his starts.
In 2014, the Dodgers again fell to the Cardinals, this time in the Division Series. Kershaw famously blew a late-inning lead in Game 1 and was outdueled again in Game 4. Greinke was again sharp, winning Game 2 and giving the Dodgers a chance in the elimination game.
The 2015 postseason was the most bittersweet. Greinke pitched brilliantly in Game 2 of the NLDS against the Mets and gave the Dodgers a shot in Game 5, but a seventh-inning homer by Daniel Murphy was the difference. Kershaw battled back from an opening loss to win Game 4, but the damage was done. The Mets advanced. The Dodgers went home.
The End of an Era
After the 2015 season, Greinke opted out of his contract and signed a massive deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks. Many Dodger fans were heartbroken but understood—Greinke had earned the right to secure generational wealth, and the front office wasn’t willing to match Arizona’s six-year, $206.5 million offer.
The departure marked the end of one of the most dominant pitching duos in recent history. While the Dodgers would continue to build strong rotations—and eventually win the 2020 World Series—it would be hard to replicate the brilliance and chemistry of the Greinke-Kershaw years.
A Full-Circle Moment
Fast-forward to 2025. Zack Greinke officially retired after the 2023 season, finishing his career with 2,979 strikeouts—just 21 shy of the 3,000 mark, a milestone that still stings for many baseball romantics.
Clayton Kershaw, meanwhile, is back on the mound after shoulder surgery, making what could be his final run in a Dodgers uniform. On June 7, in a five-inning, seven-strikeout gem against the Cardinals, Kershaw passed Greinke to move into 20th place on the all-time strikeout list. In hearing after the game that he’d passed up his former teammate, Kersh gave a smile. “I like that one,” he said. “That’s good. I need to beat Zack. That’s good. Hopefully he finds out that I beat him and he texts me.”
It was a symbolic moment—not just a statistical one. Kershaw and Greinke will always be linked in the hearts of Dodger fans. To see Kershaw eclipse his former teammate in such a meaningful category is a reminder of how far he’s come, and how much the two meant to each other.
Legacy
The three years of Greinke and Kershaw may not have ended with a championship, but they remain a cherished chapter in Dodgers history. They raised expectations, turned every series into a must-watch event, and showed what happens when two elite competitors feed off one another’s brilliance.
Kershaw’s continued climb up the strikeout leaderboard is just another testament to his greatness. Passing Greinke, in particular, is a fitting tribute to a golden era.
For three years, the Dodgers didn’t just have an ace. They had two.
And for those who watched them pitch back-to-back on warm summer nights at Chavez Ravine, it was nothing short of magic.
Have you subscribed to the Bleed Los Podcast YouTube channel? Be sure to ring the notification bell to watch player interviews, participate in shows & promotions, and stay up to date on all Dodgers news and rumors!
