Dodgers' Star Pitcher Clayton Kershaw's Retirement: Ways to Utilize Him in the Playoffs During His Last MLB Season
Clayton Kershaw, the veteran left-hander for the Los Angeles Dodgers, has announced his retirement at the end of the 2025 Major League Baseball (MLB) season. However, his exact role in the 2025 playoffs remains undecided, with manager Dave Roberts indicating there could still be a spot for him.
Kershaw, who is 37 years old, has had an illustrious career spanning 18 seasons. He has earned 11 All-Star Game nods, three Cy Young Awards, a Most Valuable Player Award, and two Dodger World Series championships (2020 and 2024).
In the regular season this year, Kershaw has made 20 starts, compiling a 3.53 ERA and a 2.37 strikeout-to-walk ratio. However, his postseason career ERA stands at 4.49, higher than his regular-season career ERA of 2.54.
Kershaw's postseason struggles have been a significant part of his career narrative until 2020. In seven career postseason relief outings, he has surrendered five earned runs on six hits, with three of those hits being home runs. The Dodgers have lost five of the seven games in which Kershaw pitched in relief during the postseason.
The Dodgers currently lead the NL West, though the Padres are giving them a tough competition. The team has not yet formally clinched a playoff berth, but they are expected to do so within a few days.
Meanwhile, the Dodgers' bullpen has encountered some challenges over the last 30 days. Tanner Scott, Blake Treinen, and Kirby Yates have struggled in high-leverage situations. This could potentially open up opportunities for Kershaw in the postseason, depending on the final decision by manager Dave Roberts.
Dave Roberts has expressed trust in Kershaw's abilities for the postseason, and Mark Walter, the owner of the Dodgers, has congratulated Kershaw on his career and acknowledged his charitable endeavors.
However, Kershaw's role in the postseason remains uncertain. He has pitched in relief during the playoffs before, but never exclusively. His final regular-season home start will be against the San Francisco Giants on Friday night.
As Kershaw's career story concludes during the upcoming postseason, he will be remembered as one of the greatest pitchers in Dodgers history. His impact on the team and the sport will continue to be felt for years to come.
In contrast, Blake Snell, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tyler Glasnow, and Shohei Ohtani have performed better than Kershaw in the stats provided for the Dodgers this season. These young stars have shown promising potential and could play significant roles in the Dodgers' postseason run.
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