Morry Gash/Associated Press

With his second-inning strikeout of Milwaukee Brewers second baseman Jonathan Villar, Los Angeles Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw reached 2,000 for his illustrious career.

Per ESPN Stats & Info, Kershaw hit the 2,000-strikeout mark in 277 games, second-fastest to reach that plateau in Major League Baseball history.

The 29-year-old ace of the Dodgers has been the best pitcher in MLB since his first full season in 2009. Over the past eight seasons, Kershaw's 51.9 FanGraphs wins above replacement is eight more than any other starting pitcher.

In 2015, Kershaw became the first pitcher to strikeout 300 batters in a season since Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling accomplished the feat in 2002.

He has finished in the top five of National League Cy Young voting in each of the past six seasons, including three wins, and he won the 2014 NL MVP award. His 2.37 ERA entering play on Friday would represent his worst mark in a season since 2012.