Clayton Kershaw experienced a sendoff befitting his 18 seasons at Dodger Stadium on Friday.
Following the announcement a day prior that he intends to retire after the 2025 season, the three-time Cy Young Award recipient made what may be his last regular-season appearance at the only professional venue he has ever called home. Facing off against the San Francisco Giants, a familiar opponent, he was removed from the game after striking out Rafael Devers in the fifth inning, eliciting a standing ovation from the attendees, embraces from his teammates, and considerable emotion from his wife, Ellen.
“I’m at a loss for words trying to describe how meaningful tonight was for me,” Kershaw expressed after the game.
The night wasn’t without its imperfections, as the Giants managed to score a couple of runs against Kershaw, including a leadoff home run from Heliot Ramos. Additionally, the game was exclusively available to Dodger fans via Apple TV+. He recorded six strikeouts while allowing two hits and four walks over 4 1/3 innings, marking a respectable performance in what has been a commendable final season.
Nevertheless, every athlete should be so fortunate as to have such a moment upon their exit, with numerous former teammates making the effort to attend. Among those present to support Kershaw were former Dodgers Andre Ethier, Russell Martin, Chase Utley, Austin Barnes, and A.J. Pollock, along with his former high school football teammate, Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford.
Ethier and Martin were both part of the Dodgers’ lineup when Kershaw debuted in MLB back in 2008, with Martin serving as his catcher and Ethier delivering the game-winning hit.
“I remember it like it was yesterday, he was just a rookie then,” Martin shared on the Apple TV+ broadcast. “I was there for his first game and being here for what felt like his last start felt right.”
The Dodgers also scored their lone run while Kershaw was pitching on Friday thanks to a solo home run by Miguel Rojas, who was playing third base for the team when Kershaw pitched his only no-hitter in 2014. Shohei Ohtani added to the score after Kershaw’s exit with a three-run homer in the fifth inning, ensuring Kershaw would not be charged with the loss.
The game concluded with a 6-3 victory for the Dodgers. Los Angeles secured a postseason berth just before the final pitch due to a Philadelphia Phillies victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks. They also increased their lead in the NL West over the San Diego Padres to four games with eight games remaining.
Given the Dodgers’ use of a six-man rotation, Kershaw’s final regular-season start is currently projected to be a road game against the Seattle Mariners next Friday. However, his career at Dodger Stadium has seemingly come to a close, marked by a 2.26 ERA in 228 starts.
Clayton Kershaw’s career at Dodger Stadium is over. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
(Ronald Martinez via Getty Images)
Could it be Clayton Kershaw’s last start on the Dodger Stadium Pitching Mound?
Friday’s event was generally regarded as Kershaw’s potential final regular-season appearance at Dodger Stadium, with the understanding that he might have the opportunity to pitch there during the postseason. However, this outcome is by no means assured.
Typically, a pitcher with Kershaw’s statistical record would be a strong contender for the playoff rotation. Unfortunately, in this situation, he is a member of the Dodgers.
Although the rotation has been a concern for much of the season, the group has significantly improved over the past month, with six different starters demonstrating solid performance.
When selecting four starters for the playoff rotation, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell, and Tyler Glasnow all seem like definite choices for the group. Shohei Ohtani would likely be included, especially given Dodgers manager Dave Roberts’ indication that he is unlikely to transition to a relief pitcher to support the Dodgers’ struggling bullpen.
This leaves Kershaw and Emmet Sheehan as potential alternates. Sheehan is likely to assume a long relief role, as he has done in the past. The question is whether the Dodgers will assign a similar role to Kershaw. Roberts stated on Friday that he believes the Dodgers will find a roster spot for him.
All of these considerations assume that everyone will remain healthy and maintain their form in the coming weeks. However, the collective situation suggests that Friday’s game might indeed be Kershaw’s last start at Dodger Stadium, without any further qualifications.
