Clayton Kershaw‘s final game at Dodger Stadium was not how he wanted it to go, but he still had a fond moment while saying goodbye to Southern California.
The Los Angeles Dodgers dropped Game 5 of the World Series, 6-1, to put the Toronto Blue Jays one win away from their first Fall Classic victory since 1993.
Kershaw did not appear in the game, but his final pitch in Chavez Ravine helped extend the 18-inning marathon that was Game 3.
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw waves after Game 5 of the World Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Toronto Blue Jays at Dodger Stadium on Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025 in Los Angeles. (Eric Thayer/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
Despite the panic meter being turned up quite a few notches in Los Angeles, though, Kershaw made it a point to take it all in before heading to Toronto for the final game(s) of the season.
Kershaw, who announced last month this would be his final MLB season, took photos on the mound with the grounds crew, and his four children scampered about, catching balls he tossed. He shared an embrace with his wife, Ellen, who wore his No. 22 jersey and is expecting their fifth child. He kissed her forehead.
Kershaw has pitched just 2.1 innings this October, appearing in one game during the National League Division Series in which he allowed five runs (four earned) in two innings.
Clayton Kershaw of the Los Angeles Dodgers leaves the game during the first inning during the 2025 MLB All-Star Game at Truist Park. (Jordan Godfree/Imagn Images)
The Dodgers replayed a video of Kershaw’s career highlights, including his 3,000th strikeout in July, on the video boards before Game 5. FOX Sports aired a tribute during its Game 4 telecast on Tuesday with rapper-actor Ice Cube doing the narration.
Shortly after the game, several Dodgers fans were able to suppress their sadness about the game and give Kershaw the kudos he deserves, understanding the moment.
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw waves his cap as he leaves during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners. The game took place in Seattle, Washington, on Sept. 28, 2025.(John Froschauer/AP)
The Dodgers are a loss away from Kershaw’s career ending on a very low note. But if the Dodgers can win both Games 6 and 7 in Toronto, Kershaw’s Hall of Fame plaque will read three-time “World Series champion.”
Clayton Kershaw lingered on the field at Dodger Stadium, taking in the sights for the last time at the ballpark he’s called home for his entire 18-year career.
His four children scampered about, catching balls he tossed. He shared an embrace with his wife, Ellen, who wore his No. 22 jersey and is expecting their fifth child. He kissed her forehead.
The Los Angeles Dodgers’ 6-1 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays in Game 5 of the World Series on Wednesday night marked Kershaw’s final home game. The 37-year-old left-hander announced last month he will retire after this season.
Working out of the bullpen in the postseason, Kershaw didn’t get in the game. The defending champion Dodgers head to Toronto for Game 6 on Friday facing elimination.
Kershaw wasn’t on the Dodgers’ roster for their NL Wild Card Series. He was added for the Division Series and kept on through the World Series.
Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw (22) reacts after game five of the 2025 MLB World Series against the Toronto Blue Jays at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
The three-time Cy Young Award winner made a clutch appearance out of the bullpen in the 12th inning of Game 3, a 6-5 victory that stretched 18 tense innings.
With the score tied, the Blue Jays loaded the bases against Emmet Sheehan, who got the first two outs of the inning before Kershaw trotted to the mound to thunderous applause.
Ellen was a nervous wreck in the stands, covering her face with her hands.
Kershaw and Nathan Lukes battled each other to a full count. Lukes hit a slow roller to second base and raced to first. Tommy Edman fielded the ball and flipped it to Freddie Freeman to end the inning.
Kershaw was removed after getting that critical out. It might have been his final time on a major league mound.
In his prime from 2010-15, Kershaw led the NL in ERA five times, in strikeouts three times and wins twice.
Zeke Hernandez, a freelance cameraman, recalls the thrilling moment he got Freddie Freeman’s home run ball that ended the 18-inning Game 3 of the 2025 World Series. Darsha Philips reports for the NBC4 News at 11 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025.
He had one of the best seasons ever in 2014, when he finished 21-3 with a 1.77 ERA and 233 strikeouts to win both the Cy Young and Most Valuable Player awards in the NL.
The Dodgers re-played a video of Kershaw’s career highlights, including his 3,000th strikeout in July, on the videoboards before Game 5. FOX Sports aired a tribute during its Game 4 telecast on Tuesday with rapper-actor Ice Cube doing the narration.
In one of his last gestures, Kershaw turned toward the stands and waved, with fans capturing the moment on their phones.
The Phillies are still alive, at least for one more night.
Kyle Schwarber finally connected on his swing and launched two homers into the seats, Ranger Suárez was aces in relief, and though it took the Dodgers handing them a few more golden opportunities, the Phillies’ bats eventually piled on.
They took Game 3 of the NLDS in an 8-2 blowout over at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. They’re still trailing the best-of-five series, 2-1, but the important thing right now is that the Phillies are still playing.
They’re still breathing.
Here’s how…
The Good
• It took until the fourth inning of Game 3, stuck in an 0-for-23 drought and with the Phillies’ backs completely against the wall, but Kyle Schwarber finally got one.
L.A.’s Yoshinobu Yamamoto left a 2-0 fastball up in the zone, Schwarber got the barrel around to it, and as soon as the pitch cracked off the bat, it was never a question of if it was gone; it was a question of how far it was going.
Schwarber obliterated a solo home run 455 feet into Dodger Stadium’s right-field concourse to put his mark on the series after going quiet through Games 1 and 2.
He also tied the game up 1-1 after an opening three innings where the Phillies were struggling to get a read on Yamamoto, and the heart of the order followed behind him and started patching something together.
• Bryce Harper, who had also been struggling to make contact, followed Schwarber up with a base hit and went first to third on a slow-rolling single into center from Alec Bohm right after.
It was a risky call, but it hurried a throw from outfielder Andy Pages, who was caught off guard and rushed an ensuing bad decision that bounced past Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy and into the L.A. dugout.
Harper was free to take home on the error. Bohm, who had rushed around to second in the chaos, was awarded third, then scored on a Brandon Marsh sac fly to left.
The Phillies took a 3-1 lead and some heavy momentum that piled on with a ground-rule double from J.T. Realmuto. They needed that, but the rally halted quickly after, on a Max Kepler flyout and a Nick Castellanos strikeout to let Yamamoto get away.
• Ranger Suárez was everything the Phillies needed on Wednesday night. That first-pitch homer he gave up to Tommy Edman after he took over for Aaron Nola in the third wasn’t ideal, but the lefty didn’t let it snowball.
Instead, he posted five innings of one-hit, one-run ball in relief, with four strikeouts and just a walk. Edman’s solo homer was kept to the only damage done, and while it did look a bit dicey at other points, clutch plays like Bryson Stott’s underhanded double-play setup to end the sixth kept the Phillies away from trouble.
It was a big-time outing, in potentially what could’ve been Suárez’s last appearance as a Phillie, but the curtain hasn’t fallen just yet.
• Dodgers manager Dave Roberts really seemed to try to hand the Phillies Game 2 back at Citizens Bank Park. Rob Thomson and his club just bafflingly refused to take it, which sent them to L.A. in the 2-0 hole.
On Wednesday night, Roberts gave them another chance. Longtime lefty Clayton Kershaw, in his farewell season, was called on in relief for the seventh, and thanks to a base-running blunder from Schwarber (see below), the 37-year-old escaped a jam and kept the Phillies to just that 3-1 lead they put together in the fourth.
Then Roberts decided to leave Kershaw out there for the eighth. What he thought was going to happen? Who knows, but here’s what did…
J.T. Realmuto homered immediately, Max Kepler drew a walk, Nick Castellanos reached on a fielding error by Max Muncy at third, then after a sac bunt from Stott to move the runners up, Trea Turner looped a base hit to score both runners and put the Phillies up, 6-1.
If you thought that would be a night for Kershaw right there, uhh…no. He stayed in to face Schwarber. Schwarber crushed his second homer of the night, a two-run shot, for an 8-1 lead. That was game, as the seats in Dodger Stadium rapidly emptied out.
Again, who knows what Roberts was thinking, but it gave the Phillies another day.
The Bad
• The bottom of the first was an immediate rollercoaster for the Phillies.
Aaron Nola had his velocity, hitting 95 mph with his fastball, and got Shohei Ohtani to fly out for the first out.
Then Mookie Betts stepped up to the plate and worked into a 2-2 count after five pitches. On the sixth, Nola fired another 95 mph fastball, but left it right over the plate. Betts got a hold of the ball and lined it into center.
Marsh ran to it, and had he tracked it down and played it on the hop, a runner would be on, but only from a very manageable one-out single.
Marsh made a decision, though, and tried diving after the ball for the out. He missed. It went rolling to the wall as he lay there, and Nick Castellanos in right was slow to back up the play, which sent Betts storming off to third for the triple.
A runner was in scoring position, which hasn’t been anywhere close to a comfortable scenario to have Nola in all year. He pushed through and struck out Teoscar Hernández in four pitches for the second out, but then hit Freddie Freeman with a 0-1 knuckle curve that didn’t break to put runners at the corners.
Tanner Banks got up in the bullpen and started warming up.
Nola fought back for a huge strikeout of Will Smith looking on a full count to get the Phillies out unscathed. But from the jump, they were teetering on disaster, and after Nola had burnt through 22 pitches with movement going on in the pen, it was clear he only had so long.
• Nola returned for the second and put up a quick 1-2-3 inning, but that was as far as he was going after only 31 pitches, that lone triple allowed, the hit by pitch, and three strikeouts.
Suárez finally came in from the bullpen for his first appearance all series, but on the lefty’s very first pitch to start the third, Tommy Edman took him yard.
The Phillies, in a do-or-die, were working from behind, 1-0. They would have to climb back to survive.
Suárez turned it around quickly with a groundout of Ohtani, a lineout of Betts, and another groundout from Hernández to escape, but not before the Dodgers struck that first run. Still, he went on to recover beautifully.
• The Phillies, starting with Schwarber’s missile of a homer, finally got to Yamamoto in the fourth. In the fifth, they chased him from the game and looked like they were about to go on another rally, but stopped themselves short.
Stott singled in the nine hole, Turner followed with a base hit of his own in the next at-bat, and the two executed a double steal of second and third to put runners in scoring position with no one out.
Schwarber was up, and Roberts took that as his cue to take the ball from Yamamoto and hand it off to reliever Anthony Banda.
This was a crucial opportunity for the Phils to build up insurance, but Schwarber struck out swinging on a full count, Harper flied out on the first pitch to shallow right to hold the runners, and after the Dodgers elected to intentionally walk Bohm to load the bases, Banda had Marsh at the plate in the lefty-on-lefty matchup.
Marsh, who has notoriously been incapable of handling left-handed pitching, went down swinging on three pitches to let the Dodgers out of the jam.
• Worse yet, they let the Dodgers exploit that matchup a second time.
In the seventh, L.A. called to Kershaw out of the pen. Turner immediately singled off him, Schwarber drew a walk, and Harper lined out to right, but it was a pretty well-hit ball that Hernández couldn’t get a read on until the last second.
Then, with Bohm back at the plate, Schwarber gave Kershaw and the Dodgers a gift.
A breaking pitch spun into the dirt and got away from catcher Will Smith, but he recovered it and Schwarber caught himself between committing to the steal of second and retreating back to first.
He had nowhere to go.
Smith made the throw to first, and Freddie Freeman tagged him up for the second out. Turner took third in the process, but Roberts recognized that the Dodgers could intentionally walk Bohm again and have the lefty Kershaw take his chances against Marsh.
Marsh battled to a 2-2 count, but he flied out to Hernández in right with little concern this time.
The Dodgers were let off scot-free again, and this one could’ve stood to really haunt the Phillies…
Had Roberts not stuck with Kershaw for the eighth. He really gave that gift right back to them with that call.
The End?
• Not just yet. Game 4 is Thursday night back at Dodger Stadium.
The Phillies are still breathing, and Cristopher Sánchez will get another turn up against Dodgers right-hander Tyler Glasnow.
Kyle Schwarber exploded from his 0-for-22 slump with two home runs, the first a 455-foot ‘Schwarbomb’ that sparked the Philadelphia Phillies as they staved off elimination with an 8-2 victory over the Dodgers in Game 3 of their National League Division Series on Wednesday night.
The loss was the Dodgers’ first since Sept. 23 in Arizona, ending a nine-game winning streak that included their first four postseason games this year. They have another chance to close out the series at home with Game 4 scheduled for Thursday afternoon. Tyler Glasnow is expected to start for the Dodgers.
Schwarber and Bryce Harper had gone a combined 1 for 15 in the first two games of this series. They had four hits, two walks, three RBIs and three runs scored in Game 3.
The National League’s home run leader with 56 during the regular season – and the only possible threat to Shohei Ohtani winning a fourth league MVP award – Schwarber had started this series 0 for 7 with five strikeouts after ending the season hitless in his last 14 at-bats with eight more strikeouts.
He grounded out harmlessly in his first at-bat against Dodgers starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Leading off the fourth inning, though, Schwarber got a 2-and-0 fastball up over the plate and destroyed it. The ball left his bat at an Ohtani-like 117.2 mph and wasn’t seen again until it had cleared the right field pavilion roof an estimated 455 feet from home plate.
Prior to that swing, the Phillies were hanging their hopes on powder-blue retro uniforms and escaping a hostile home environment where apparently the fans are too mean to them.
But Schwarber’s blast gave them life. Bryce Harper (1 for his first 7 in the series) followed with a single and Alec Bohm made it three consecutive hits when he singled to center field.
When Harper charged toward third base on Bohm’s hit, Dodgers center fielder Andy Pages made a poor throw that bounced through third base, allowing Harper to score. The throw bounded into the dugout, allowing Bohm to go to third base and score on Brandon Marsh’s sacrifice fly.
When Yamamoto gave up back-to-back singles in the fifth inning, his night was done. It was his shortest outing since failing to complete four innings against the New York Yankees on June 1.
The Phillies, meanwhile, were met with skepticism and criticism on the Philadelphia airwaves after Manager Rob Thomson announced Aaron Nola, not Ranger Suarez as the Game 3 starter.
Unlike the Philly fan base, the Dodgers did not overreact to the decision, going with a lineup that looked more set for the lefty Suarez than the righty Nola.
It was the appropriate call – Nola lasted just two innings, essentially an extended opener for Suarez. The Dodgers had him on the ropes with a one-out triple by Mookie Betts in the first but they didn’t score until Tommy Edman hit Suarez’s first pitch of the night in the third inning over the wall in left field.
Thomson’s combo-platter strategy might not have drawn the lineup reaction the Phillies were going for – but it got the results they needed. Nola and Suarez combined to allow just Edman’s run in their combined seven innings.
The Dodgers put two runners on with two outs in the fourth but Andy Pages popped out. They got two on with one out in the sixth but Max Muncy bounced into a double play.
By the time Suarez handed the ball off to the bullpen in the eighth inning, the Phillies had started their fall raking, scoring five times on five hits – including home runs by JT Realmuto and Schwarber again (this time a wall-scraper) – off of Clayton Kershaw. Kershaw was pitching in the postseason for the first time since Game 1 of the 2023 NLDS and making his first postseason relief appearance since Game 5 of the 2019 NLDS. Neither of those went well either.
These two offenses are very similar – first and third in the National League in batting average, second and third in on-base percentage, first and third in slugging percentage, first and second in OPS. Both have a power trio at the top of their lineup – Trea Turner, NL home run leader Kyle Schwarber and former MVP Bryce Harper for Philly, Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman for the Dodgers – and a dangerous supporting cast.
“Baseball is a timing game. Does the long layoff ruin that?” pitcher Clayton Kershaw said in 2023 after the Dodgers’ offense was a no-show in back-to-back first-round playoff defeats following the bye break.
“Look, it’s hard. I mean, pitching maybe not so much, but obviously offensively these guys are so used to playing every day. So I get it. Extra teams and more money, all that stuff (led to the bye format). I get it. But I do think that – I’m not a hitter, but it does seem like it’s a bit of a challenge for guys.”
Adding to the challenge for the Phillies, Turner missed three weeks in September with a hamstring injury and returned only for the regular-season finale. The Dodgers will still have to match the Phillies’ firepower. Another similarity between the two teams – both are particularly potent at their home ballparks. That could be decisive for the Phillies, who have home-field advantage in the best-of-five series. EDGE: PHILLIES
STARTING PITCHERS
PHILLIES: LH Cristopher Sanchez (13-5, 2.50 ERA, 202 IP, 1.06 WHIP, 9.4 Ks per 9 IP), LH Jesus Luzardo (15-7, 3.92 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 10.6 Ks per 9 IP), LH Ranger Suarez (12-8, 3.20, 1.22 WHIP, 8.6 Ks per 9 IP), RH Aaron Nola (5-10, 6.01 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, 9.3 Ks per 9 IP)
The Dodgers faced the Phillies’ top three (healthy) starters – Cy Young Award candidate Cristopher Sanchez, Jesus Luzardo and Ranger Suarez – during their series at Dodger Stadium just a little over two weeks ago. They got to them for 11 runs in 20 innings. The fact that all three are left-handed would seem to be an advantage for the Phillies, nullifying three of the Dodgers’ key hitters – Ohtani, Freeman and Max Muncy. But Ohtani and Freeman aren’t your typical left-handed hitters. Their splits are fairly even and the Dodgers actually had the best slugging percentage and OPS and second-best batting average against left-handed pitching in the NL this year. The late-season rebirths of Betts and Teoscar Hernandez have been a big part of that.
Ohtani and Blake Snell also pitched during that September series against the Phillies. Neither gave up a run. Ohtani didn’t give up a hit in his five-inning start. The Dodgers will ask all of their starters to go deep in games in order to minimize the Phillies’ play time against their bullpen. EDGE: DODGERS
PROJECTED BULLPEN
PHILLIES: RH Jhoan Duran (7-6, 2.06, 32 saves, 5 blown saves, 1.10 WHIP, 10.3 Ks per 9 IP with Twins and Phillies), RH David Robertson (2-0, 4.08 ERA, 1.47 WHIP, 11.2 Ks per 9 IP), LH Tanner Banks (6-2, 1 save, 3.07 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, 8.2 Ks per 9 IP), RH Orion Kierkering (8-4, 4 saves, 3.30 ERA, 1.37 WHIP, 9.8 Ks per 9 IP), RH Walker Buehler (10-7, 4.93 ERA, 1.52 WHIP, 6.6 Ks per 9 IP), LH Matt Strahm (2-3, 6 saves, 2.74 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, 10.1 Ks per 9 IP), RH Jordan Romano (2-4, 8 saves, 8.23 ERA, 1.45 WHIP, 9.9 Ks per 9 IP), LH Tim Mayza (0-0, 3.78 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, 8.1 Ks per 9 IP), RH Taijuan Walker (5-8, 1 save, 4.08 ERA, 1.41 WHIP, 6.3 Ks per 9 IP)
DODGERS: LH Tanner Scott (1-4, 23 saves, 10 blown saves, 4.74 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 9.5 Ks per 9 IP), RH Blake Treinen (2-7, 2 saves, 5.40 ERA, 1.84 WHIP, 12.2 Ks per 9 IP), LH Alex Vesia (4-2, 5 saves, 3.02 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, 12.1 Ks per 9 IP), LH Jack Dreyer (3-2, 4 saves, 2.95 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, 8.7 Ks per 9 IP), RH Roki Sasaki (1-1, 4.46 ERA, 1.43 WHIP, 6.9 Ks per 9 IP in 10 appearances, 8 starts), RH Emmet Sheehan (6-3, 2.82 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, 10.9 Ks per 9 IP in 15 appearances, 12 starts), LH Anthony Banda (5-1, 3.18 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 8.4 Ks per 9 IP), LH Clayton Kershaw (11-2, 3.36 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 6.7 Ks per 9 IP), RH Edgardo Henriquez (2-1, 1 save, 2.37 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 8.5 Ks per 9 IP)
The Phillies’ bullpen hasn’t been great this season either. Unlike Andrew Friedman, though, Dave Dombrowski pulled the trigger on a big move at the trade deadline, acquiring a new closer in Jhoan Duran. Duran has been good but not impregnable (16 saves, three blown saves) and the setup crew in front of him is unimpressive. Displaced starters like Taijuan Walker, Aaron Nola and former Dodger Walker Buehler (released by the Boston Red Sox in August) could play roles. EDGE: EVEN
BENCH
PHILLIES: IF Edmundo Sosa (.276/.307/.469, 11 HRs, 39 RBIs), OF Max Kepler (.216/.300/.391, 18 HRs, 52 RBIs), C Rafael Marchan, .210/.282/.305, 2 HRs, 13 RBIs), IF Otto Kemp (.234/.298/.411, 8 HRs, 28 RBIs), IF-OF Weston Wilson (.198/.282/.369, 5 HRs, 17 RBIs)
DODGERS: C Will Smith (.296/.404/.497, 17 HRs, 61 RBIs), OF Michael Conforto (.199/.305/.333, 12 HRs, 36 RBIs), IF Hyeseong Kim (.280/.314/.385, 3 HRs, 17 RBIs, 13 SBs), C Dalton Rushing (.204/.258/.324, 4 HRs, 24 RBIs), OF Alex Call (.267/.361/.385, 5 HRs, 31 RBIs with Dodgers and Nationals)
The Dodgers carried three catchers for the Wild Card Series when Will Smith showed he had recovered enough from his hand injury to at least pinch-hit. They didn’t use Smith against the Reds, giving him a few more days to get his hand back to full strength for this series. Look for him to get back in the starting lineup at some point early in the NLDS, particularly with an extra off day between Games 1 and 2.
The Phillies, meanwhile, will platoon some with their outfield, using the left-handed Max Kepler instead of the right-handed Nick Castellanos. Both are power threats (though Castellanos had a down year). EDGE: DODGERS
DODGERS: Dave Roberts, 10th season, 944-576, .621, 10th postseason 58-44, .569 (4 pennants, 2 World Series titles)
Relievers have been dropping from Dave Roberts’ “trust tree” like fall leaves. He showed you what he thinks of that group when he pulled Alex Vesia and Edgardo Henriquez each after the minimum three batters in the eighth inning of Game 1 against the Reds then yanked a shaky Emmet Sheehan in the middle of an at-bat in Game 2. October is no time to be patient and Roberts will have to continue that aggressive managing to avoid his bullpen sabotaging the Dodgers’ postseason.
Thomson made his mark in 2022 when he took over a 22-29 team from fired manager Joe Girardi and led them to a 65-46 record as interim manager. That Phillies team got to the World Series (and lost to the Houston Astros), securing the full-time job for Thomson, who has led them to four consecutive playoff spots and back-to-back NL East titles. EDGE: DODGERS
SERIES PREDICTION
A year ago, the Dodgers faced the Padres in the NLDS and Roberts later said “that was the World Series” for the Dodgers. The Padres were the best team the Dodgers faced during their run to a World Series championship. The same thing might be true of this Phillies team if the Dodgers can get past them. The two teams are very similar offensively, have strong starting pitching and bullpens that are their weakest groups. The Dodgers haven’t played particularly well at Citizens Bank Park recently – they have lost seven of their nine games there over the past three seasons. Underperforming for two months in midseason – they were 22-32 from July 4 into early September – cost them a shot at one of the top two seeds in the NL and home-field advantage. The Phillies had the best home record in baseball this season (55-26). That could be the decisive factor in this close-call matchup. PHILLIES IN FIVE
Kershaw will start one of the games next weekend in the Dodgers’ final series of the regular season in Seattle. Beyond that, though, the soon-to-retire Kershaw acknowledged he doesn’t know what is in store for him.
“Our team is honestly stacked with pitching right now,” Kershaw said, accurately, following the final regular-season home start of his Hall-of-Fame career. “I think our rotation has been throwing the ball – it’s the best in the league right now. So I can do the math. I know there’s only so many spots. I’m just going to try to continue to pitch well. Pitch well in Seattle and then we’ll see what happens.”
The Dodgers are all but locked into playing in a three-game Wild Card Series next week. Blake Snell, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Shohei Ohtani are likely to start those three games. In the short series, the Dodgers might even shorten up their bullpen and carry an extra position player on the roster (especially if catcher Will Smith’s injured hand is still an issue).
A best-of-five National League Division Series will follow with Tyler Glasnow, Emmet Sheehan and Kershaw available to join the starting rotation. Only one of them will be needed with the other two potentially moving to the bullpen.
“Andrew (Friedman) and Doc (Dave Roberts) and all those guys are going to make the right decisions to help us,” Kershaw said. “I’m ready and willing to do whatever I can to help.”
“Ultimately I don’t have the final say; it’s kind of a collection of conversations,” Roberts said of Kershaw’s postseason role. “But I just think that the person, the experience, and whatever role that he’s willing to take on is a positive. I don’t know what role … I still feel that there’s a role for him, a spot for him.”
The three-time Cy Young winner and 2014 MVP will end his career where it began
Credit: Getty
Clayton Kershaw, long-time ace for the Los Angeles Dodgers for nearly 18 seasons, has just announced he will be retiring after the 2025 season, closing the door on one of the most memorable and remarkable careers in MLB history.
The news was first shared by the Dodgers on X in a post that read: “Three-time NL Cy Young Award winner, 2014 NL MVP, and 11-time All-Star Clayton Kershaw will retire following the 2025 season. He will make his final Dodger Stadium regular-season start on Friday.”
The announcement confirms what fans and baseball insiders speculated for the past couple of months, that the 2025 season would be the final run for the 37-year-old left-hander.
Kershaw spent his first entire 18-season career with the dodger blue. “I don’t think I put enough merit on it at times, what it means to be able to be in one organization for your entire career,” Kershaw reflected earlier this year, noting that ending his career in Los Angeles was always part of his plan (MLB).
Across 18 seasons, Kershaw collected over 3,000 strikeouts, won three Cy-Young Awards, an MVP, and contributed to many deep playoff runs as the Dodgers’ ace. He also helped deliver the Dodgers a long-awaited World Series title in 2020, their first since 1988.
Despite injuries in recent years, Kershaw has been able to remain reliable on the mound for the Dodgers, posting a 10-2 record with a 3.53 ERA in 20 starts this season, showcasing his ability to compete at a high level even in his final campaign.
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Despite the legendary numbers from the lefty ace, Kershaw symbolized consistency and loyalty to Los Angeles, something the Dodger fans truly value and respect him for. The younger generation of Dodger fans very much idolized him growing up, especially during his prime seasons, where he won his three Cy Young Awards in 4 seasons. The announcement on X brought many fans together to pay tribute to the long-time ace, sharing their best memories and triumphs from his career.
With the season coming to a close, Dodger fans aren’t just focused on another World Series run, but on savoring every last moment with their ace, who defined a generation of baseball in Los Angeles.
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Clayton Kershaw pitches to a San Francisco Giants batter during the first inning of a baseball game Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Clayton Kershaw, a three-time Cy Young Award winner, will retire at the end of this season, the Los Angeles Dodgers announced Thursday.
The 37-year-old left-hander will make his final regular-season start at Dodger Stadium on Friday night against the San Francisco Giants.
Kershaw, an 11-time All-Star and 2014 NL MVP, is in his 18th major league season, all with the Dodgers.
He won World Series championships in 2020 and 2024.
Kershaw has a career record of 222-96 and 15 shutouts, leading active Major League players.
His 2.54 ERA is the lowest of any pitcher in the live ball era since 1920.
The Dodgers’ Will Smith, left, is hit by seeds thrown by teammate Andy Pages as he returns to the dugout after hitting a solo home run during the sixth inning of a game against the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2025, at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw throws to the plate during the first inning of a game against the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2025, at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Nick Martinez throws to the plate during the first inning of a game against the Dodgers on Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2025, at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
The Dodgers’ Mookie Betts runs home to score the tying run on a throwing error by Cincinnati Reds outfielder Austin Hays during the first inning on Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2025, at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw throws to the plate during the first inning of a game against the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2025, at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Nick Martinez throws to the plate during the first inning of a game against the Dodgers on Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2025, at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Cincinnati Reds second baseman Matt McLain can’t handle a ball hit for a single by the Dodgers’ Kiké Hernández during the second inning on Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2025, at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
The Dodgers’ Kike Hernandez runs out a single during the second inning of a game against the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2025, at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
The Dodgers’ Andy Pages, right, is tagged out by Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz as he tries to steal second base during the second inning on Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2025, at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw throws to the plate during the first inning of their game against the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani checks his bat as he steps up to the plate during the third inning of a game against the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2025, at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani, right, is forced out at second base as Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz decides not to throw to first on a hit by Mookie Betts during the third inning on Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2025, at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani takes his glove off after being forced out at second base during the third inning of a game against the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2025, at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Nick Martinez, left, has his glove knocked off by a single hit by the Dodgers’ Michael Conforto during the fourth inning on Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2025, at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
The Dodgers’ Teoscar Hernández, left, and Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz embrace after Hernández hit a double during the fourth inning on Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2025, at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts reacts after a double play during the sixth inning of a game against the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2025, at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
The Dodgers’ Will Smith hits a solo home run during the sixth inning of a game against the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2025, at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
The Dodgers’ Will Smith, left, begins to run the bases as he watches the flight of his solo home run off of Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Nick Martinez, center, during the sixth inning on Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2025, at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Cincinnati Reds center fielder Noelvi Marte watches a ball hit by the Dodgers’ Will Smith land in the stands for a solo home run during the sixth inning on Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2025, at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
The Dodgers’ Will Smith, right, scores after hitting a solo home run as Cincinnati Reds catcher Jose Trevino stands at the plate during the sixth inning on Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2025, at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Cincinnati Reds center fielder Noelvi Marte collides with the wall as he goes after a ball hit for an RBI double by the Dodgers’ Miguel Rojas during the sixth inning on Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2025, at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
The Dodgers’ Kike Hernandez hits a single during the sixth inning of a game against the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2025, at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
The Dodgers’ Kike Hernandez scores in front of Cincinnati Reds catcher Jose Trevino during the sixth inning on Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2025, at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
The Dodgers’ Miguel Rojas, right, scores on a single hit by Shohei Ohtani as Cincinnati Reds catcher Jose Trevino waits with the ball during the sixth inning on Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2025, at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Dodgers relief pitcher Tanner Scott throws to the plate during the ninth inning of a game against the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2025, at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman makes a catch on a foul ball hit by the Cincinnati Reds’ Miguel Andujar during the ninth inning on Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2025, at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Dodgers teammates Shohei Ohtani, right, and Max Muncy laugh after a 6-3 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2025, at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
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The Dodgers’ Will Smith, left, is hit by seeds thrown by teammate Andy Pages as he returns to the dugout after hitting a solo home run during the sixth inning of a game against the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2025, at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
LOS ANGELES — Four times this month, Clayton Kershaw followed a Dodgers loss with a victory. On Tuesday night, he was glad to try something new.
Kershaw went five solid innings and led the Dodgers to a win, with this one coming after a victory.
The 6-3 decision over the Cincinnati Reds extended the team’s winning streak to three games and set themselves up to try for a second consecutive home sweep on Wednesday. They closed their previous homestand with a three-game sweep of the San Diego Padres from Aug. 15-17.
It also kept the Dodgers one game ahead of the second-place Padres in the National League West race with San Diego beating the Seattle Mariners, 7-6, on the road.
Despite giving up a first-inning run, Kershaw set the tone with command and deception, while never topping 89.5 mph with his fastball. And yet he still recorded 12 swings and misses as he struck out six and did not walk a batter while earning his 221st career victory.
“I think the thing that’s been most impressive is his efficiency,” Manager Dave Roberts said before the game. “He’s getting strike one, he’s putting the ball in play, getting quick outs. I think he’s very cognizant of the fact that he only has so many bullets each night, and so he’s not going to waste them throwing balls.”
Of his tidy 72 pitches Tuesday, 49 were for strikes. And while he made it look like a standard Kershaw outing where he was in complete control, it was actually anything but.
“It wasn’t a great night, stuff-wise,” Kershaw said. “Didn’t have a lot of life on the fastball or really anything. (Catcher) Will (Smith) did a good job. We kind of flipped the script and just started throwing kind of a lot of different stuff, trying to be creative, keep them off balance. It wasn’t coming out tonight so good.”
He was even pitching on four days of rest for just the third time in 17 starts as the Dodgers continue to prioritize giving a full seven days between starts for Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
“Just for Clayton to be open to it, to be able to adjust his schedule, has been huge,” Roberts said. “And he’s performed admirably. I mean, above that. So, yeah, the guys are all in and understand kind of what we’re dealing with, as far as a rotation, and there’s got to be a little bit of give and take.”
After Kershaw (9-2) delivered a four-start winning streak in June, he now has a five-start run, while posting a 1.88 ERA in August. He lowered his overall ERA to 3.06.
“It was a good August,” Kershaw said. “Physically everything feels good. I think everything changes from start to start sometimes. But overall, it was great. The team got a lot of wins, which was great. Fun to be a part of it this time of year.”
Utility man Kiké Hernandez made his return to the starting lineup, after missing nearly two months with left elbow inflammation, and he marked the occasion with a go-ahead sacrifice fly in the fourth inning.
Smith not only guided Kershaw from behind the plate, he hit a solo home run during a four-run sixth inning. His 16th home run of the season was just his second over his past 26 games dating to July 22.
The Reds scored early – on a Spencer Steer double to lead off the game and an RBI ground out from Miguel Andujar. That out started a run of 14 consecutive outs for Kershaw until his outing ended.
The Dodgers matched the run in the bottom of the first on a walk to Mookie Betts and a double from Freddie Freeman. Betts scored when the throw from left field by Austin Hays was well over the second base bag, with the ball rolling into shallow right field as Betts came home.
Smith’s home run in the sixth gave the Dodgers a 3-1 lead that became 6-1 later in the inning when Miguel Rojas had a two-run double and Shohei Ohtani followed with an RBI single.
The Dodgers tagged Reds right-hander Nick Martinez with four runs on seven hits over 5⅓ innings.
“It’s been really fun to watch our guys play at the level that they’re capable of,” Roberts said of a three-game stretch that started in San Diego on Sunday afternoon. “And I’ll just say that as far as kind of the intent of energy and compete, Martinez has had our number for years. So for us to kind of put some numbers on the board against him was huge. And we had a couple big at-bats off the bench.”
Right-hander Ben Casparius gave up a two-run home run to Hays in the seventh inning before Blake Treinen pitched a scoreless eighth inning and Tanner Scott worked the ninth for his 20th save.
While left-hander Alex Vesia went on the injured list before the game with a right oblique strain, outfielder Alex Call left the contest with a lower back strain.
“He says that he’s played through worse,” Roberts said. “But my hope was to get him in there (Wednesday), so I wanted to get him out of the game. … We’ll see how he kind of responds to treatment, but I don’t think it’s too concerning.”
LOS ANGELES — Shohei Ohtani set a major league record by homering and stealing a base for the 14th time in the same game and the Los Angeles Dodgers rallied to beat the last-place Colorado Rockies 6-4 on Friday night.
The win reduced the NL West-leading Dodgers’ magic number to four to clinch the division. Los Angeles is already assured of a postseason berth.
Ohtani’s 52nd homer and 52nd stolen base allowed him to break the previous mark of 13 games set by Rickey Henderson in 1986 with the New York Yankees.
Teoscar Hernández hit a go-ahead homer leading off the sixth inning that gave the Dodgers a 4-3 lead.
The Dodgers tacked on two runs in the seventh. Pinch-hitter Tommy Edman scored on Mookie Betts’ sacrifice fly. Ohtani reached on an infield single to first base and then stole second. He was safe at third on a throwing error by center fielder Sam Hilliard and scored on Hernandez’s infield single.
Ohtani had a go-ahead homer with two outs in the fifth after Andy Pages led off the inning with a solo shot.
Ohtani gave the crowd of 49,073 some thrills after the home fans had to watch long distance Thursday night when he became the first player in major league history with 50 homers and 50 stolen bases in a season at Miami.
The Rockies got home runs by Charlie Blackmon and Hilliard.
Alex Vesia (4-4) got the victory with one inning of relief. Michael Kopech pitched the ninth for his 14th save.
Colorado’s Kyle Freeland (5-8) took the loss, giving up four runs and seven hits in six innings. He struck out two and walked none.
Ryan Brasier pitched the first inning to open the bullpen game for the Dodgers.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Rockies: RHP Tyler Kinley went on the 15-day IL with right elbow inflammation.
Dodgers: LHP Clayton Kershaw (toe) threw a 30-pitch bullpen session and hopes to face hitters next week. … RHP Anthony Banda (hand) will throw a bullpen this weekend.
UP NEXT
Rockies: RHP Cal Quantrill (8-10, 4.68 ERA) makes his second start Saturday since coming off the IL. He’s 1-5 in his career against LA.
Dodgers: RHP Walker Buehler (1-5, 5.54) is looking for just his second win of the season. He got hit hard by the Rockies on June 18, giving up seven hits, seven runs and two homers.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Clayton Kershaw was placed on the 15-day injured list by the Los Angeles Dodgers before Monday’s game against the Pittsburgh Pirates due to left shoulder soreness.
The Dodgers recalled right-handers Michael Grove and Gavin Stone, and optioned left-hander Victor González to Triple-A Oklahoma City.
Kershaw was selected to his 10th All-Star team Sunday, which tied him for the most in franchise history. He said he was planning to attend next week’s game in Seattle despite being unable to pitch.
Max Muncy hit his 19th homer of the season, and Los Angeles defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates 5-2 to get Dave Roberts his 700th win as the Dodgers’ manager.
Mets slugger Pete Alonso will participate in the All-Star Home Run Derby on July 10 in Seattle, looking to win the event for the third time.
Nicky Lopez matched a career high with four RBIs while Maikel Garcia and Bobby Witt Jr. drove in two runs apiece to help Kansas City to a 9-1 romp over the Dodgers.
Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw showed some progress while playing catch before Sunday’s game against the Kansas City Royals but the club remains uncertain what his next step will be.
The left-hander picked up his 10th victory, which is tied for the NL lead, with six scoreless innings in his last start against Colorado on June 27. He is 10-4 this season with 105 strikeouts and a 2.55 ERA.
Grove will start the opener of a four-game series against the Pirates. The right-hander is 0-2 with a 7.54 ERA.
With Kershaw’s stint, every member of the Dodgers’ starting rotation has spent time on the injured list this season.
Justin Verlander and the Houston Astros got the jump on the New York Yankees again.
Now they’ll try to take a 2-0 lead in the AL Championship Series when All-Star lefty Framber Valdez pitches against Yankees right-hander Luis Severino on Thursday night in Houston.
It’s a day off in the NLCS, with the Padres and Phillies tied 1-all as their best-of-seven series shifts from San Diego to Philadelphia for three games beginning Friday night.
Verlander recovered from a rocky start and struck out 11 over six strong innings to lead the Astros past the Yankees 4-2 on Wednesday night.
Yuli Gurriel launched a tiebreaking homer in the sixth. Chas McCormick and rookie Jeremy Peña also went deep as the AL West champions improved to 4-0 in the playoffs after going 106-56 during the regular season.
It was a familiar result in the power struggle between the teams over the past few years.
Houston knocked New York out of the playoffs in 2015, 2017 and 2019 before going 5-2 against the Yankees during the 2022 regular season.
This is the sixth straight ALCS appearance for the Astros, their third meeting with the Yankees during that span.
Houston is trying to reach the World Series for the second consecutive season and fourth time in six years. New York hasn’t made it since beating the Phillies in 2009 for the most recent of its 27 championships.
Verlander set a major league record with his eighth double-digit strikeout game in the postseason. He passed Clayton Kershaw (213) to become the career leader in postseason strikeouts with 219.
New York whiffed 17 times in all to only two for the Astros — the largest difference ever in a postseason game.
“They’re obviously really dynamic,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “Outstanding starting pitching, but can shorten the game with the best of ’em. So we’ve got to find a way to break through against them.”
Valdez went 17-6 with a 2.82 ERA during the regular season. He led the American League with 201 1/3 innings pitched and three complete games. In Game 2 of the Division Series against Seattle, he allowed four hits and two runs over 5 2/3 innings.
Severino was 7-3 with a 3.18 ERA in 19 starts this season. He yielded eight hits and three runs over 5 2/3 innings in Game 3 of the ALDS versus Cleveland.
Here’s what else to know about the MLB playoffs Thursday:
THURSDAY’S SCHEDULE (All times ET)
ALCS Game 2: New York Yankees at Houston, 7:37 p.m., TBS
OH, BROTHER!
In danger of heading to Philadelphia down 0-2 in the NLCS, the Padres produced another huge rally in front of their rowdy fans to put some punch into the all-wild card matchup.
Brandon Drury hit a go-ahead, two-run single during a five-run outburst in the fifth inning and San Diego stunned Aaron Nola and the Phillies 8-5 on Wednesday to tie the NLCS at one game apiece.
The fifth-inning surge started with Padres catcher Austin Nola hitting an RBI single off his younger brother that brought the sellout, towel-twirling crowd of 44,607 to life after San Diego trailed 4-0 early.
Drury and Josh Bell hit back-to-back homers. Manny Machado went deep late.
The rally was similar to the one the Padres pulled off Saturday night, when they scored five runs in the seventh inning of a 5-3 victory that eliminated the 111-win Los Angeles Dodgers.
Joe Musgrove is scheduled to start Game 3 for his hometown Padres against Ranger Suarez.
STILL SLUMPING
Astros star Jose Altuve, a three-time batting champion, went 0 for 3 with a walk in Game 1 against the Yankees and is 0 for 19 this postseason.
The 2017 AL MVP hit .300 with 28 homers during the regular season.
“Jose, he’s due to break out and have some remarkable games,” Houston manager Dusty Baker said. “This guy has been good for so long, and sometimes the rest of your lineup’s got to carry a guy like that until he gets going.”
OFFSEASON INJURY UPDATES
José Ramírez didn’t let a torn thumb ligament stop him from leading the Guardians during a surprising season.
Cleveland’s All-Star third baseman played the second half — as well as the team’s playoff run that ended Tuesday in the AL Division Series — with a torn right thumb ligament that will require surgery.
Meanwhile, the Seattle Mariners will head into the offseason with four key players needing downtime or surgery to heal injuries, including AL Rookie of the Year favorite Julio Rodríguez. The star center fielder broke his left pinkie during the Game 3 loss to Houston that ended their AL Division Series.
The Guardians said Ramírez injured the ulnar collateral ligament in his thumb during a June game in Los Angeles. The 30-year-old could have opted for surgery, which would have sidelined him for two months, but decided to keep playing.
He’ll have an operation in the next few weeks. Renowned hand specialist Dr. Thomas Graham will perform the surgery in Dayton, Ohio.
The Guardians said the rehab will not significantly impact Ramírez’s offseason training or availability for next season.
Mariners president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto said an exit exam this week revealed the injury to the 21-year-old Rodríguez, but he’s not expected to need surgery. He got hurt sliding headfirst into second base on a double in the eighth inning of what became an 18-inning marathon defeat.
Also needing downtime to recover from injuries are Seattle catcher Cal Raleigh (left thumb) and standout reliever Andrés Muñoz (foot), while outfielder Jesse Winker has already undergone one of two operations needed to repair injuries to his left knee and neck that he dealt with during the season.
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Nick Castellanos and the Philadelphia Phillies can put the defending World Series champion Braves on the brink of elimination. Same for the Dodgers against the rival Padres.
Meanwhile, the Mariners and Guardians get a day to shake off tough losses to the Astros and Yankees, respectively.
The best-of-five National League Division Series pitting Phillies vs. Braves and Padres vs. Dodgers are set for their second games Wednesday, while the American League clubs get a day off.
Castellanos carried a big load with his bat in a 7-6 Game 1 victory Tuesday over Atlanta. But despite driving in three runs, his glovework was what really had people talking.
Frequently maligned as part of a subpar defensive outfield, Castellanos sprawled out for a potentially game-saving catch in the ninth inning, snuffing out Atlanta’s rally from a six-run deficit.
The grab helped lock up the Phillies’ third straight win to open this postseason — an unexpected run months after they fired manager Joe Girardi and replaced him with Rob Thomson.
Here’s what else to know about the MLB playoffs today:
TODAY’S SCHEDULE (All times ET)
NLDS Game 2: Philadelphia at Atlanta, 4:35 p.m., FOX
NLDS Game 2: San Diego at Los Angeles, 8:37 p.m., FS1
BRAVE NEW OCTOBER
Dansby Swanson and the Braves haven’t rediscovered last year’s World Series magic. They’re hoping it’ll show against Game 2 Phillies starter Zack Wheeler.
Atlanta didn’t look like a defending champion Tuesday. The Braves stranded nine runners in their Game 1 loss, an aggravating day that had the usually cool-headed Swanson slamming his bat and helmet to the ground midgame.
They showed signs of life late, when Matt Olson’s three-run homer cut the deficit to one in the ninth inning. They’ll ask Game 2 starter Kyle Wright to carry over that momentum — something he did well while leading the majors with 21 wins this season.
CLOSED OUT
The Dodgers can take a 2-0 series lead over San Diego with a win Wednesday. They’ll send three-time Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw to the mound against Padres ace Yu Darvish.
If Kershaw and the Dodgers win a second World Series in three years, it may be without eight-time All-Star Craig Kimbrel in the bullpen. And that’s by choice.
Kimbrel was left off Los Angeles’ NLDS roster, a decision manager Dave Roberts made two weeks after demoting Kimbrel out of the closer’s role.
Kimbrel was 6-7 with 22 saves and was booed at times in his first season in Los Angeles as the replacement for Kenley Jansen. Kimbrel leads active pitchers with 394 career saves and has never blown a postseason chance in 23 appearances, although he has a subpar 4.13 ERA in those games.
Chris Martin pitched the ninth inning in LA’s 5-3 win Tuesday night, converting his first postseason save in 15 career appearances.
NO JOSHING
Yankees slugger Josh Donaldson is catching heat from fans even after a satisfying Game 1 win in New York.
The 36-year-old was embarrassingly thrown out on the bases after prematurely going into a home run trot on a ball that bounced off the top of the wall during New York’s 4-1 victory Tuesday. Donaldson didn’t run hard, and he didn’t answer questions about it from reporters after the game, either.
It was hardly the first time Donaldson’s lack of hustle became an issue for the Yankees this year. Boone pulled him aside after an incident Sept. 5 and told him, “Let’s not let that happen.”
FREAKED OUT
Relief pitchers David Robertson of the Phillies and Phil Maton of the Astros were left off their clubs’ Division Series rosters after freak injuries.
Robertson, 37-year-old in a resurgent season for the Phils, injured his right calf jumping to celebrate Bryce Harper’s home run in a clinching Game 2 victory over St. Louis during the wild-card round. He’s not with the team in Atlanta, instead going back to Philadelphia for a PRP injection.
“He’s devastated,” Thomson said. “He really wanted to pitch in the series. And he knows how big a part he is to this club. And he’s very disappointed.”
Maton says he broke his right pinkie finger when he punched a locker in frustration after Houston’s regular-season finale. He’s out for the remainder of the postseason. He called the outburst “shortsighted and ultimately selfish.”
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LOS ANGELES — Trea Turner homered and doubled as the Los Angeles Dodgers started fast and held off the San Diego Padres 5-3 on Tuesday night in their NL Division Series opener.
Behind 17-game winner Julio Urías, the Dodgers raced to an early 5-0 lead and appeared to be on their way to another blowout of the Padres.
Los Angeles dominated in the regular season, owning a 14-5 advantage and outscoring San Diego 109-47. The 111-win Dodgers claimed the NL West and the Padres finished second, 22 games back.
With Sandy Koufax watching from the owners’ box, Urías retired the first eight batters he faced until Austin Nola doubled with two outs in the third.
“We have to give a lot of credit to our offense,” Urías said through a translator. “They did a good job battling, getting those runs early and putting us in a good spot to win.”
Chris Martin, who had two saves this season, gave up a single in the ninth, when the Padres had the potential tying run at the plate. Struggling closer Craig Kimbrel was left off the Dodgers’ roster for this best-of-five matchup.
Game 2 is Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium before the series shifts south to San Diego.
“No moral victories, but the latter part of the game was better than the first part for us,” Padres manager Bob Melvin said.
“We felt like we had a chance in the latter innings to win this game,” he said. “I think everybody is pretty eager to get back out here again.”
The Padres were coming off a win in the decisive Game 3 of the wild-card series Sunday night over the Mets in New York.
The Dodgers, who had five days off after drawing a bye, showed no signs of rust.
In the first, Turner hit a 419-foot shot into the left-field pavilion for his second career postseason homer and first as a Dodger. Two batters later, Will Smith doubled and scored on Max Muncy’s two-out single for a 2-0 lead.
The Dodgers batted around in the third, tacking on three more runs.
Turner doubled leading off and after Freddie Freeman flied out, Smith stepped in and doubled to deep left-center, nearly the same spot where Turner’s ball landed. Gavin Lux doubled to the right-field corner with two outs, driving in Smith and chasing Mike Clevinger.
Steven Wilson came in and promptly walked Trayce Thompson to load the bases.
Choking up, Cody Bellinger initially was thought to have been hit by a pitch and took first base as Muncy was forced in. But upon video review, it appeared the ball hit the knob of the bat. Bellinger was called back to the plate and Muncy returned to third.
Bellinger was then safe at first on an error by first baseman Wil Myers, scoring Muncy. The ball hit off the heel of Myers’ glove and he missed it on the pickup, leaving no chance to make a play on the speedy Bellinger.
The Dodgers’ offense — baseball’s highest-scoring this season — went quiet after the third. Their lone baserunner was Freeman, who walked. Mookie Betts and Freeman were a combined 0 for 7 with two strikeouts.
The Dodgers hadn’t played a must-win game since mid-June before running away with the division. But they found themselves in trouble in the fifth.
That’s when the Padres finally got to Urías, closing to 5-3 after he gave up three straight hits.
Myers led off with an opposite-field solo shot to left. Trent Grisham had an RBI grounder that scored Jake Cronenworth, who had singled. Nola’s sacrifice fly scored Ha-Seong Kim, who doubled.
San Diego threatened again in the sixth against Evan Phillips, but the defense bailed him out.
Juan Soto drew a leadoff walk. Booed heavily by the crowd of 52,407, Manny Machado followed with an infield trickler that the Dodgers hoped would roll foul. It did not, and went for a single.
After pinch-hitter Josh Bell struck out, Myers came up as the potential go-ahead run.
Myers grounded into an inning-ending double play, started by second baseman Gavin Lux. He flipped to Turner, and the shortstop double-clutched before firing to first to get Myers.
Urías allowed three runs and four hits in five innings. The left-hander struck out six and walked none.
Clevinger gave up five runs — four earned — and six hits in 2 2/3 innings. The right-hander struck out three and walked two.
ROSTER MOVE
Kimbrel had already been demoted from his ninth-inning role two weeks ago after struggling much of the season as the successor to Kenley Jansen, who left as a free agent last winter.
UP NEXT
RH Yu Darvish, who had a 3.10 ERA in the regular season, starts Game 2 for the Padres. LH Clayton Kershaw, the three-time Cy Young Award winner, goes for the Dodgers.
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LOS ANGELES — The San Diego Padres knocked off the 101-win New York Mets in the National League wild-card series.
Awaiting them in the NL Division Series is an even bigger challenge: the 111-win Los Angeles Dodgers.
“They’re hot and we’ve been hot for seven months,” a smiling — or was it smirking? — Dodgers slugger Freddie Freeman said Monday.
Call it a postseason Freeway Series.
“It’s going to be a very intense series,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said.
Unlike the regular season.
The Southern California rivals were separated by a whopping 22 games in the NL West, with the Dodgers controlling first place for much of the time and the Padres finishing second.
“They handed it to us pretty good this year, so we realize what we’re up against,” Padres manager Bob Melvin said. “It feels a little bit better now that we’re not looking at the standings.”
That’s not the only way in which the Dodgers dominated the Padres. Los Angeles went 15-4 against them, never lost a series and outscored them 109-47.
As a result, the Dodgers are solid favorites coming into the best-of-five NLDS that begins Tuesday night in Los Angeles. In Game 1, right-hander Mike Clevinger takes the mound for the Padres against left-hander Julio Urías, a 17-game winner for the Dodgers.
Right-hander Yu Darvish, a 16-game winner, starts for the Padres in Game 2 on Wednesday against left-hander Clayton Kershaw, the Dodgers’ three-time Cy Young Award winner.
The Dodgers are well-rested, having been been off since closing out the regular season a week ago. While the Padres flew cross-country to outscore the Mets 16-8 in winning the wild-card series in three games, the Dodgers played simulated games in their empty stadium.
They gathered at a high-end steakhouse on Sunday night for a team dinner with the decisive Padres-Mets game on in the background. Watching Padres pitcher Joe Musgrove getting his ears checked for illegal substances by the umpire, “it got a little louder in the room,” Freeman said.
BOLSTERING THE RANKS
San Diego got better at the trade deadline by adding closer Josh Hader and two-time All-Star Juan Soto, who was a teammate of current Dodger Trea Turner on the Washington Nationals.
Hader closed out Game 3 against the Mets and Soto went 2 for 4 with two RBIs in the clincher.
The Dodgers signed Freeman in March, adding offensive punch to an already potent lineup. Freeman hit .325 and finished .001 points behind the Mets’ Jeff McNeil for the NL batting title.
ALMOST LIKE HOME
The last time the Padres were in the playoffs in a full season in front of fans in 2006, Roberts was their leadoff hitter and left fielder. He’ll be able to sleep in his own bed during the NLDS since he lives in the San Diego area.
BUEHLER’S NIGHT OUT
Walker Buehler will be on the mound for Game 2 on Wednesday — to toss out the ceremonial first pitch. The two-time All-Star who helped the Dodgers win the 2020 World Series had his second career Tommy John surgery in August. He’s not expected back until the 2024 season. Buehler was 6-3 with a 4.02 ERA in 12 starts this season before having surgery.
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The regular season is officially in the books (OK, maybe there is still a game or two trickling slowly to its finish as you read this) and the 2022 MLB playoffs are set to start Friday — and this year’s postseason could be epic.
In addition to a new format that features 12 teams and a three-game wild-card round that is guaranteed to bring drama to October from the very start, there are so many storylines to follow throughout that it has a chance to be an all-time great month of baseball.
Below, we highlight the 12 themes that will dominate the entire sport as the new 12-team format begins.
I think baseball finally nailed it. Yes, there are those who will always favor the old setups of two pennants or four division winners, but the 12-team arrangement is an improvement over 10 teams (which had been the norm for the past decade). The do-or-die wild-card game, which had been around since 2012, never felt right and, frankly, never really turned into the must-see drama that the sports world stopped everything to watch anyway.
As we saw with the temporary 16-team bracket in 2020, these quick, three-game series are fun. They’re still plenty pressure-packed, but they feel more like baseball than a winner-take-all matchup.
Crucially, this format still rewards the best teams with a first-round bye and the opportunity to rest a pitching staff and line up a rotation. My only nit with where baseball landed this year is that a seven-game division series would be better than five — maybe next year, when the start of the season won’t be delayed by a lockout.
2. There’s a 111-win superteam and nobody is sure what to make of its World Series chances
The Los Angeles Dodgers won 111 games — the most ever for a National League team in a 162-game season and a total topped only by the 2001 Seattle Mariners and 1998 New York Yankees. If they win it all, they go down alongside that Yankees team as one of the greatest of all time; if they don’t win it all, they’re relegated to the back pages of history alongside those Mariners.
Since 2017, the Dodgers have had four 104-win seasons, a remarkably long period of domination … but just one World Series title. Their sole championship came in the shortened 2020 season, with playoff games played in front of empty stadiums or at neutral sites. It counts — or as a friend of mine who is a longtime die-hard Dodgers fan told me, it counts as one-third of a title. And don’t forget that teams were allowed to play with 28-man rosters that postseason, which allowed the Dodgers to use starters as relievers and relievers as starters and do things they might not have been able to do with a 26-man roster.
Alden Gonzalez had a good breakdown of the pressure the Dodgers face this October. In a sense, they’re playing for two championships: 2022 and a validation of 2020. While manager Dave Roberts told ESPN he “absolutely” considers the Dodgers a dynasty — and four 104-win seasons certainly back that claim up — two titles would definitely secure their place in history as one of the greatest teams of all time.
3. We’ve got a real chance of a repeat
After winning the World Series in 2021, the Atlanta Braves lost Freddie Freeman to the Dodgers — and got younger and better, winning 101 games and their fifth straight division title. No team has repeated as World Series champs since the Yankees won three in a row from 1998 to 2000; the Braves have the power, the pitching and the momentum — after stealing the NL East in the final week with a three-game sweep of the New York Mets — to do it.
And it’s not just a repeat, the Braves might be on their way to a dynasty here. Their turnaround from a 10½-game deficit to the division title began when they called up Michael Harris II to play center field in late May and moved Spencer Strider to the rotation. From June 1 — the first win in a 14-game winning streak — to the end of the regular season, they went 78-34. Strider’s injured oblique might keep him out of the playoffs, but they still have Max Fried, 20-game winner Kyle Wright and October hero of the past Charlie Morton, plus a lineup that led the NL in home runs.
4. Speaking of dynasties … what do we make of the Houston Astros?
You might have noticed by now, but there are a lot of good teams at the top of this year’s playoff bracket. We have four 100-win clubs in the Dodgers, Astros, Braves and Mets, with the Yankees finishing at 99 wins. The you-can’t-predict-baseball nature of the postseason doesn’t guarantee we’ll see two of these teams in the World Series, but if we do, there’s a good chance we’ll see a classic series. The last matchup of 100-win teams in the World Series was 2017, when the Astros beat the Dodgers in seven thrilling games. Before that, you have to go all the way back to 1970 to have two 100-win teams in the World Series.
The Astros also have four 100-win seasons since 2017, including 107 in 2019 and 106 this season. Sign-stealing scandal or not, if they win the World Series, perhaps they go down as the dominant franchise of this era. And an added bonus? After 25 years of managing in the big leagues and making his 12th trip to the postseason, manager Dusty Baker is hoping to finally win that final game of the season.
To make matters more interesting, the Astros appear on a collision course to meet the Yankees in the American League Championship Series for the third time since 2017. Remember the war of words in the spring between Astros owner Jim Crane and Yankees general manager Brian Cashman after Cashman cried that the only thing that had stopped the Yankees in previous seasons from reaching the World Series was “something that was so illegal and horrific.” A Yankees-Astros ALCS would be an epic battle — even if it is one Evil Empire versus another.
5. New York baseball is B-A-C-K
This is now the Yankees’ 13th season since last appearing in a World Series in 2009 — an unacceptable length of time for baseball’s richest and most historically successful franchise with 27 titles in a sport where the wealthiest teams have a decided advantage. Longtime fans will note the Yankees are closing in on the infamous World Series drought from 1982 to 1995, the reign of terror era under George Steinbrenner when he cycled through 13 managers and seven general managers.
On the other side of town: The Mets won 100 games for just the fourth time in franchise history and first time since 1988, but they enter the postseason with the bitter taste of defeat after losing that final series to the Braves. Everyone knows that Jacob deGrom and Max Scherzer can carry a team through a postseason — but deGrom allowed 14 runs and six home runs in 21 innings over his final four starts, so the Mets will need him to find that groove where he posted a 1.66 ERA over his first seven starts after returning in August. Still, this is hardly a two-man team: Pete Alonso led the NL in RBIs, Francisco Lindor might finish in the top 10 of the MVP voting, Chris Bassitt and Taijuan Walker are solid 3-4 starters and Edwin Diaz has been a lockdown closer. The Mets have had their moments since that run of success in the 1980s, including two World Series appearances, but it’s been 36 years since their iconic 1986 team won it all.
6. Did you really think we forgot about Aaron Judge?
Yes, both teams have made New York baseball interesting all season, but nobody has been more at the center of that than the man who just finished up a 62-home run campaign — and has fans of both New York teams envisioning his free agency will end with him signing with their club.
Now, we have Judge trying to cap off what might be arguably the greatest season of any player in history — by that, I mean a historic regular season, a great postseason and a World Series title. Ted Williams in 1941? Didn’t even win the pennant. Carl Yastrzemski in 1967? The highest single-season WAR for a position player other than Babe Ruth, but the Red Sox lost the World Series. Bob Gibson in 1968? A 1.12 ERA and a record 17 strikeouts in one World Series game, but he lost Game 7. Dwight Gooden in 1985? The Mets missed the playoffs. Pedro Martinez in 1999? The Red Sox lost in the ALCS. Barry Bonds in 2001? The Giants didn’t make the playoffs. Bonds in 2002? He had a great postseason, but the Giants lost Game 7 of the Fall Classic. Mookie Betts in 2018? A 10.7-WAR season that matches Judge and the Red Sox won the World Series, but Betts had a lackluster postseason (.210/.300/.323).
7. Can the GOAT go out on top?
Let’s not forget the other slugger who made home run history this season — Albert Pujols. Every player would love to go out on top, either still playing well or with a dogpile on the field. Almost none of them do. Pujols and Yadier Molina have a chance to do that — and maybe Adam Wainwright joins them in retirement as well (he’s yet to officially announce his status for 2023).
The three St. Louis Cardinals legends reunited this season when Pujols returned after a 10-year exile, and all three will play a key role in what happens to the club in October. As will Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Arenado, two of the greatest players of their generation who will likely finish 1-2 in the MVP voting in the NL — and who both seek their first trip to the World Series.
8. The playoff drought-busters
While the Cardinals come into this postseason with loads of October experience, there are two franchises about to get their first taste of the playoffs in a long, long time. The Seattle Mariners and Philadelphia Phillies ended the sport’s two longest playoff droughts in securing wild-card spots, although both teams will be on the road for the first round — Seattle at Toronto, Philadelphia at St. Louis.
When Cal Raleigh hit his pinch-hit walk-off home run to clinch a wild-card spot, the Mariners celebrated like they had won the World Series. Can you blame them? Twenty-one years is a long time between playoff appearances. Sure, they had plenty of terrible teams along the way, but also several near misses: 93 wins in 2002 and 2003, 88 wins in 2007, one win short in 2014, three short in 2016, alive until the final day last season. They aren’t even guaranteed a home playoff game if they don’t beat the Blue Jays, although you can bet the watch party at T-Mobile Park will have a playoff-like atmosphere.
The good news is Julio Rodriguez returned from his back problem to play a couple of games at the end of the regular season (and homered in the season finale). The bad news is second-half spark plug Sam Haggerty and outfielder/DH Jesse Winker both just landed on the injured list. The rotation and bullpen are healthy, however — Luis Castillo looks like a legitimate ace when he’s on, while Logan Gilbert had a 2.00 ERA in September, allowing one run or less in five of his six starts. If you like a good underdog story, believe in the Mariners.
Meanwhile, the Phillies had the majors’ second-longest playoff drought, making it for the first time since 2011. They have Bryce Harper, back in the postseason for the first time since 2017, and power-hitting Kyle Schwarber, who led the NL in home runs. Aaron Nola, Zack Wheeler and Ranger Suarez (2.95 ERA since July 16) are a strong rotation trio. I wouldn’t bet on them in the tough NL, but there are similarities here in roster construction to the 2019 Nationals, who went from the wild card to World Series champs.
9. The World Series curses we don’t talk about enough
The Cleveland Guardians are trying to win their first World Series since 1948. The San Diego Padres and Tampa Bay Rays are trying to win their first one, while the aforementioned Mariners remain the only franchise never to play in a World Series.
The Guardians’ World Series drought has never received as much attention as the ones for the Red Sox and Cubs did, but it’s now been 74 years since the Cleveland franchise won it all — longer than the 1986 Red Sox had gone (68 years) when they lost to the Mets. How about winning it all in the first season with the new nickname? They might make a movie out of that given this list of Cleveland’s postseason heartbreaks:
1995: The best team in baseball that year, but they lost the World Series to the Braves.
1997: Blew a ninth-inning lead in Game 7 of the World Series to the Marlins and lost in extra innings.
2007: Lost the ALCS to the Red Sox after being up 3-1.
2016: Were up 3-1 on the Cubs in the World Series and lost Game 7, again, in extra innings.
2017: Lost the division series to the Yankees after being up 2-0.
And then there’s the team that’s been around since 1969 — and never won it all. The Padres made World Series appearances in 1984 and 1998, but this is just the seventh postseason trip in franchise history.
But these aren’t your older brother’s Padres. This is a team that has spent the past three seasons acquiring an All-Star squad of talent while playing with a brash style that could make it very popular this postseason — if the Padres can stick around long enough for national fans to get familiar with their stars. They’ve gone all-in to dethrone the Dodgers in recent seasons — only to fall well short. But they squeaked in, and anything can happen in the playoffs, right? Especially with Manny Machado and Juan Soto and Joe Musgrove and Yu Darvish and a suddenly rejuvenated Blake Snell (1.76 ERA over his final seven starts). The Mets-Padres wild-card series is the one to watch — with the winner facing the Dodgers in a colossal division series showdown.
10. The redemption stories
Let’s see here. We’ve got Justin Verlander, who after missing 2021 with Tommy John surgery, came back and went 18-4 with a 1.75 ERA while leading the American League in wins, ERA, WHIP and lowest batting average allowed. His status as future Hall of Famer is secure, but with a big October and another World Series championship for the Astros, his legacy becomes that of an inner-circle Hall of Famer. DeGrom and Scherzer missed some time, and deGrom sputtered at the end of the season, but that dynamic pair could carry the Mets to their first title since 1986. And then of course, there is Clayton Kershaw. Yes, he got his ring a couple of years ago, but he was injured last October, and he hasn’t won a ring in a full season with a normal postseason. How will he perform?
11. The October introduction of some legit young stars
As my colleague Kiley McDaniel pointed out recently, this is the best rookie class since Pujols and Ichiro Suzuki debuted in 2001 — and most of the biggest names will be playing in the postseason (sorry, Adley Rutschman). We’ve got Rodriguez leading the Mariners and Harris and Strider on the Braves.
But it’s not just the rookies who will remind us how bright the future of baseball is this postseason …
While we often think of the Rays as a parade of bullpen arms, they also have two budding young superstars in Wander Franco and Shane McClanahan who could power another small-market success story this postseason. And across the AL East, Alek Manoah, Alejandro Kirk, Bo Bichette and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. form a young core that makes the Blue Jays a team nobody wants to face this postseason. Of course, the question we’ll all be waiting to see answered is how these young stars will handle the bright lights of October … or should we say November.
12. It’s an October so great — it could take part of November to finish it
That’s right, thanks to the combination of the new format and the MLB lockout pushing back the start of the season, Game 7 of the 2022 World Series would take place on Nov. 5, the latest date of a playoff game in MLB history.
If every series goes the distance, we’ll get 53 postseason games with all of these incredible storylines fueling the possibility that any given night can become a must-see moment for baseball fans. Of course, in the end we need great games to have a great postseason.
That’s what still makes 1986 the gold standard for all postseasons. There were just 20 playoff games that October — the seven-game ALCS between the Red Sox and Angels, the six-game NLCS between the Mets and Astros, then the seven-game World Series when the Mets beat the Red Sox. Five of the 20 games went extra innings. Eight were decided by one run. Several are all-time classics, including Game 5 of the ALCS; Games 3, 5 and 6 of the NLCS; and Games 6 and 7 of the World Series.
The stage is set. I’m going with the Dodgers over the Astros. I’ll take Kershaw versus Verlander in Game 7 of the World Series, thank you very much.
