Clayton Kershaw Sets Dodgers Record with 5 Straight Starts of Double-Digit Ks

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw continued to be in top form, posting his fifth straight start with at least 10 strikeouts in a 5-0 win over the New York Mets on Thursday.

Kershaw is the first Dodgers pitcher since 1913 to put together such a strikeout streak, per MLB Stat of the Day:

That means Kershaw has accomplished something even Don Drysdale, Sandy Koufax and Orel Hershiser couldn't do.

The three-time Cy Young Award winner and 2014 National League MVP could add to his trophy case at the end of the year, as the Dodgers' ace (4-1) is having a phenomenal 2016 campaign, which MLB.com's Mike Petriello pointed out:

"

Clayton Kershaw, 2016: 77/4 K/BB, 1.74 ERA. He remains The Best Pitcher In Baseball.

— Mike Petriello (@mike_petriello) May 13, 2016"

ESPN Stats & Info added another stat to highlight Kershaw's dominance:

"

Clayton Kershaw (@Dodgers): 8th career shutout with 10 strikeouts, twice as many as any other pitcher since he entered the majors in 2008

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) May 13, 2016"

If Chicago Cubs ace Jake Arrieta was not also dominating this season, Kershaw would be the runaway favorite for another Cy Young honor. Arrieta is 6-0 with a microscopic 1.13 ERA.

If both pitchers keep up their play throughout the season, Arrieta may get a slight edge since the Cubs appear likely to finish with one of the best records in baseball. Regardless, Kershaw is still a generational talent whom fans should appreciate as a future first-ballot Hall of Famer.

All statistics courtesy of Baseball-Reference.