5:15pm: Kershaw addressed the media, including Ardaya, today regarding his injury and disclosed that his efforts to return from the injury have actually worsened his toe’s condition. He mentioned that undergoing surgery in the offseason to deal with the bone spurs is being considered, but no definitive decision has been made yet. When discussing his future, Kershaw expressed his continued enjoyment of pitching but preferred not to delve into detailed plans until the conclusion of the season.
3:33pm: The Dodgers are preparing to kick off Game 1 of the NLDS against the Padres later tonight, but one notable absence from their roster for the series is veteran pitcher Clayton Kershaw. Manager Dave Roberts informed reporters, including Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register, that Kershaw will be sidelined for the entire postseason due to the bone spurs in his big toe showing no signs of improvement since being placed on the IL in August, with the possibility of the condition worsening since then.
This news marks the end of a season marred by injuries for Kershaw, finishing the 2024 campaign with a 4.50 ERA (87 ERA+) and 3.87 FIP across seven starts spanning 30 innings while striking out only 18% of batters. Despite maintaining low walk and home run rates, Kershaw’s strikeout rate plummeted to the lowest of his career, rendering 2024 as his worst season to date, though drawing conclusions about his abilities when healthy is challenging given the limited sample size.
Kershaw holds a $10MM player option for the 2025 season, with uncertainties lingering about his decision to exercise it or wait until later in the offseason to assess his future. If he opts to continue playing in 2025, the Dodgers, his lifelong team, would welcome him back amid an offseason likely to see rotation upgrades, considering only a few pitchers locked into the starting rotation for 2025. For now, the Dodgers must rely on a fluctuating rotation during the postseason, with uncertainties surrounding Buehler, Knack, and others to solidify the starting options behind Yamamoto and Flaherty.
Alongside Kershaw, Joe Kelly was also omitted from the NLDS roster due to a challenging season plagued by injuries and a 4.78 ERA in relief appearances. Roberts disclosed that Kelly’s shoulder ailment, sustained during a simulated game, will keep him out until at least the World Series, leaving the door open for rookie Henriquez to fill the void in the bullpen for the NLDS.
