Clayton Kershaw’s longevity and dominance from the mound are something only the rarest of rare pitchers achieve in baseball. A Dodger through and through, Kershaw has been a winner for Los Angeles for almost two decades now. And while he’s been the ultimate asset for the Dodgers, he’s also been a nightmare for their NL West rivals, the San Diego Padres. 

Only against the Padres, the veteran ace has recorded 23 wins with an ERA of 2,19 and 317 strikeouts in 47 appearances. And when talking about Kershaw’s dominance, who better than Manny Machado to tell about that, who has played with and against the legendary ace? Despite the heated rivalries between the Padres and Dodgers, Kershaw and Machado have always respected each other over the years. So, it was not surprising when Machado put the rivalry aside and ditched all the Dodgers players to choose the 37-year-old as the best in the game. 

Within the high drama of a baseball season, the All-Star break often provides a welcome truce. Take the Padres’ third baseman, Manny Machado, for example. He is a man whom the Dodger Stadium fans often boo, but he has now delivered stunning praise for a Dodgers legend, paying the highest possible tribute to his ex-teammate.

Ahead of the 2025 All-Star Game, when Machado was asked about his former teammate’s selection for the Midsummer Classic, the Padres third baseman was all praise. “He was the best. It was an honor to play behind him. What a competitor. He’s a Hall of Famer for sure. At his age, what he’s still doing. That’s impressive.” — Machado said about Kershaw, as quoted by the Dodgers reporter Doug McKain.

Machado’s assertion that Kershaw is a “Hall of Famer for sure” is backed by a mountain of historical achievements. Kershaw is a three-time Cy Young Award winner and the 2014 National League MVP. He has also won five ERA titles and a pitching Triple Crown. The veteran recently joined the 3,000 strikeout club as well. His 2.52 career ERA is the second-lowest among all starting pitchers in the live-ball era, which is a truly amazing feat.

Kershaw’s achievements become even clearer when you compare his numbers to the average Hall of Fame pitcher. His strikeouts are far higher, and his ERA and WAR are much lower. From 2011 to 2017, he cemented his legacy as one of the best of all time with a peak career stretch. He does not just meet the Hall of Fame baseline; he goes far beyond it. But is it apt to call him “the best?”

Well, calling anyone “the best” ahead of Shohei Ohtani feels like a bold statement right now. Ohtani is a true anomaly, a three-time unanimous MVP who just put up a record-setting 50 home run, 50 stolen base season. His talent is so immense that even Kershaw has marveled at it. “I don’t remember him even being this good in Anaheim,” Kershaw admitted. “This is unbelievable… He’s just amazing.”

But Ohtani was not there with the Dodgers when Machado played alongside Kershaw. The 14-year vet clearly recalled the 2018 season while paying homage to Kershaw’s craft.

Even though Machado left the Dodgers after just one season, his relationship with Kershaw never soured.

Manny Machado: From Dodgers to ‘Dodger Killer’

Before they were rivals, they were teammates. The Dodgers acquired Machado from the Orioles in a blockbuster 2018 trade for a postseason run. For half a season, Machado played shortstop directly behind Kershaw on their way to a World Series appearance and his alliance culminated in a run to the World Series. However, the season ended in collective disappointment, with the Dodgers falling to the Boston Red Sox.

The next year, Machado signed a massive $300 million deal with the San Diego Padres. Their goal was simple: dethrone the reigning Dodgers. From a Dodgers hero, Machado quickly turned into a Dodger killer. And, he did not take long to take Kershaw deep, smashing a home run off him in his first at-bat as a Padre. That same season, he hit another monster 441-foot homerun off Kershaw.

Despite the intense competition between them, however, the mutual respect always remained. After one of Machado’s home runs, Kershaw was quick to praise his talent. “He’s been one of the elite players in our game for a long time,” he said. And that’s what makes Machado’s endorsement for Kershaw now so powerful.