Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw completed the final regular-season home start of his 18-year career, but he may not be completely off the mound just yet.
The two-time World Series champion announced his decision to retire during a news conference on Thursday, Sept 18. Kershaw struck out six while allowing four hits and two earned runs as the Dodgers beat the arch-rival San Francisco Giants and clinched a postseason berth on Friday.
“We got the win,” Kershaw said after the game. “We clinched the playoff berth. I got to stand on that mound one last time, and I just can’t be more grateful.”
The three-time Cy Young award winner’s role for the post remains unclear. Manager Dave Roberts has spent the past 10 years with Kershaw and called him “the greatest pitcher in this generation.” Roberts and Andrew Friedman, the Dodgers’ president of baseball operations, will be tasked with deciding what’s next for the veteran pitcher.
“I still feel there is a role for him, a spot for him,” Roberts said Thursday.
The manager was asked again after Friday’s victory what’s next for Kershaw.
“We haven’t decided that yet,” Roberts said. “We’re not sure yet.”
Roberts could enlist the left-handed pitcher as a starter on the postseason roster or relegate him to a smaller role and come out of the bullpen.
The Dodgers’ starting rotation is expected to consist of Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow.
“Our team is honestly stacked with pitching right now,” Kershaw said. “I think our rotation is the best in the league right now. I can do the math. I know there are only so many spots.
“Andrew, Doc and all those guys are going to make the right decision to help us. I’m ready and willing to do whatever I can to help.”
Kershaw did not participate in the postseason in 2024 due to a toe injury on his left foot while the Dodgers went on their World Series run. He has struggled at times in the postseason, including a lackluster start in 2010 against the Milwaukee Brewers when he was pulled after just 1 1/3 innings.
The Dodgers lost five straight games in early September before turning their fortune around and winning nine of their last 12 games.
Kershaw’s retirement announcement may provide further motivation for the Dodgers ahead of another potential World Series run to send the pitcher off on a positive note and further cement his legacy.
Will Clayton Kershaw pitch again?
While it’s uncertain if Kershaw will ever pitch at Dodger Stadium or in the postseason, he is expected to return to the mound at least one more time.
Kershaw could start for the Dodgers’ series opener against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on Friday, Sept. 26.
“I’m just going to continue to try and pitch well in Seattle, and we’ll see what happens, but either way, we’re going to try and win the World Series,” Kershaw said about what comes next.