by Cary Osborne
Clayton Kershaw didn’t choose to go out on a farewell tour and collect rocking chairs or framed jerseys from other ballclubs. He chose to go out by taking his turn in the rotation each time and putting the Dodgers in the best position to win that day’s game.
The Dodgers have been in a pennant race, and it’s been a lot closer than expected. The Dodgers have dealt with starting pitching injuries, inconsistency, an offense that was in a lengthy slump and a bullpen going through the same thing.
August was the height of the offensive issues. Kershaw made five starts that month, and he allowed one run or fewer in four of them. He allowed three runs at Colorado’s Coors Field in the other one.
The Dodgers won all five games.
“His energy, the way he was taking care of everything, trying to push to be his best to give us a chance so we can win games, it was amazing to see,” said right fielder Teoscar Hernández. “That gives everybody else the extra energy to pull together.”
With the Dodgers one game behind the San Diego Padres in the National League West entering Aug. 15, Kershaw held the rivals to one run over six innings in a 3–2 Dodger victory.
After that game, he didn’t sound like a 37-year-old pitcher on some kind of a sentimental journey. He sounded like someone who was laser-focused on completing the task in front of him.
“As a starter, you’re supposed to pitch well, and when it’s your turn, step up,” Kershaw said that night. “And our rotation is getting healthier, and we have a lot of guys that can throw the ball really well. So I just want to do my part.”
He has this season, and maybe more than expected.
“I’m telling you, this guy, you can never count him out,” said manager Dave Roberts. “Looking at where we were at as a starting staff earlier this year, he stepped up. There were days that he didn’t have his best stuff, finding ways and willing himself to go five, six, seven innings and just on guile and heart.
“So he’s been a huge part, obviously, of this year. And I don’t know how the rest of season’s going to play out, but we certainly wouldn’t be in this position in the standings if it weren’t for him.”
Kershaw had the first surgery of his career after the 2023 season. He didn’t pitch in a Major League game then next season until July 25. Results were uneven and he missed the 2024 postseason.
Knee and toe surgeries followed this past offseason, which delayed the beginning of the 2025 season for Kershaw.
Which was fine — at the time. The Dodgers had a wealth of starting pitching options coming into the season. But Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow and then Roki Sasaki — members of the initial Dodger 2025 starting rotation — had lengthy stays on the injured list. Shohei Ohtani didn’t start a game until June 16.
Now 37 years old and with surgeries in two consecutive offseasons, Kershaw was a need when he made his first start on May 17.
This season was always bigger than chasing 3,000 strikeouts. But it became even more so.
Kershaw got the 3,000 strikeouts. He was selected to the National League All-Star team. And with that out of the way, he pitched with the intent, competitive fire and brilliance that has made him one of the greatest pitchers in Major League history.
“(Throughout his career), he would take the ball when it was his turn. He would also take the ball when it wasn’t his turn. He would come out of the pen, do anything the team asked of him,” said third baseman Max Muncy. “He never said no. He never said my arm hurts. He never said I need a little but more time. It was whatever this team needed to get over the hump. You’re talking about one of the greatest pitchers of all time, and for him to be that unselfish is pretty ridiculous.”
Kershaw will start for the final time in his career in the regular season at Dodger Stadium today. It will be against the San Francisco Giants with the Dodgers needing a win to clinch a postseason berth.
It feels right.
“It’s just amazing — 18 years, and we needed every single one of his starts this year,” said first baseman Freddie Freeman. “Every five days, we counted on him, and we needed him. You’re 10–2 in your 18th season, it’s pretty special. And I have a feeling he’s going to go out and have a good one (today).”
Kershaw has been crucial in year 18 was originally published in Dodger Insider on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.