Dodgers face decision on using All-Star pitcher, Clayton Kershaw, in playoffs during his last MLB season as he announces retirement.
In the heart of the 2023 MLB season, Clayton Kershaw, the veteran left-hander for the Los Angeles Dodgers, finds himself in a familiar position - in the thick of the postseason race.
Currently, Kershaw is second on the Dodgers in starts with 20, and the team, who are in first place in the NL West, have yet to formally clinch a playoff berth. The Dodgers, however, are well-positioned, with Kershaw set to make his final regular-season home start on Friday against the San Francisco Giants.
Manager Dave Roberts has expressed trust in Kershaw for the postseason, but the Dodgers have four other starters who have performed better this season - Blake Snell, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tyler Glasnow, and Shohei Ohtani. Kershaw's role in the postseason could involve exorcising some old playoff demons, as his career postseason ERA of 4.49 is significantly higher than his regular-season ERA of 2.54.
Prior to the 2020 season, Kershaw's playoff woes were a significant part of his career story. However, in 2020, he helped the Dodgers win their second World Series championship, putting a positive spin on his postseason narrative.
Kershaw has a 3.53 ERA (119 ERA+) and a 2.37 strikeout-to-walk ratio this season. In seven career postseason relief outings, he has surrendered five earned runs on six hits, with three of those hits being home runs. Despite this, Kershaw has never exclusively pitched in relief during the playoffs.
Mark Walter, owner of the Dodgers, has congratulated Kershaw on his career and praised his charitable endeavors. Kershaw's career spans parts of 18 campaigns and includes 11 All-Star Game nods, three Cy Young Awards, a Most Valuable Player Award, and the two Dodger World Series championships in 2020 and 2024.
Kershaw announced his retirement at the end of the 2025 season, and his career story will likely be concluded during the upcoming nba playoffs. The Padres are putting up a fight in the NL West division, making the postseason a challenging but achievable goal for the Dodgers.
However, the Dodgers' bullpen has faced some struggles lately. Tanner Scott, Blake Treinen, and Kirby Yates have struggled in high-leverage situations over the last 30 days, which could potentially impact Kershaw's role in the nba playoffs.
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