In a season marred by injuries and inconsistency, the Los Angeles Dodgers are turning to a familiar face to stabilize their rotation—Clayton Kershaw. The legendary left-hander, now 37, is set to take the mound this Saturday for the first time in nearly nine months, making his much-anticipated return against the Los Angeles Angels at Dodger Stadium .
Clayton Kershaw addresses future uncertainty as he eyes a powerful return in his 18th MLB season
With more than a dozen pitchers on the injured list—including top arms like Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow, and rookie sensation Roki Sasaki—the Dodgers have struggled to keep their starting rotation afloat. Their starters have logged just 192 1/3 innings, the fewest in the majors, forcing the team to rely on a mix of veterans and young talent. Into this scenario steps Kershaw, who spent the offseason recovering from surgeries on his left knee and big toe.
“I don’t take it for granted I get to go out there and pitch at Dodger Stadium,” Clayton Kershaw said earlier this week. “It’ll be exciting to get back out there. Unfortunately, it comes at a time when we do need some starters.”
Kershaw’s presence adds not just experience, but also a sense of calm to the rotation, which currently includes Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tony Gonsolin, Dustin May, and Landon Knack. After five rehab starts, including a strong four-inning outing for Triple-A Oklahoma City last weekend, the three-time Cy Young winner feels physically ready. “Those last few rehab starts I was more concerned about throwing well and getting guys out than I was how my foot felt. I think that was a good sign for me physically,” he noted.
Saturday's start will mark Kershaw’s 18th season with the Dodgers, tying him with franchise legends Zack Wheat and Bill Russell. He remains the longest-tenured player on the current roster, and he’s now just 32 strikeouts away from joining the elite 3,000-strikeout club.
While the comeback is emotional, Kershaw knows performance is the ultimate metric. “If I go out there and don’t pitch good, it’s going to go away real fast,” he said. “Somebody’ll tell me to retire at some point.”
Retirement, in fact, has been a topic he's reflected on. “I think not letting an injury be the reason I stop, I think that's probably the main thing,” Kershaw shared during a recent radio appearance. Yet, he acknowledged that if he can’t contribute meaningfully, he might step away. “If another hitter gets the best of me, that's one thing. But I'm not going to let myself do it to myself.”
Beyond the stats, Kershaw is cherishing his return, especially after the Dodgers released longtime teammate Austin Barnes. “It’s sad to see someone like that go,” he said, showing his human side as much as his competitive one.
For now, though, all eyes are on Saturday—when a Dodgers icon picks up the ball once more, determined to make every pitch count.
Also Read: Minnesota Twins dominate Orioles to claim 11th consecutive win, closing in on franchise history
Clayton Kershaw addresses future uncertainty as he eyes a powerful return in his 18th MLB season
With more than a dozen pitchers on the injured list—including top arms like Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow, and rookie sensation Roki Sasaki—the Dodgers have struggled to keep their starting rotation afloat. Their starters have logged just 192 1/3 innings, the fewest in the majors, forcing the team to rely on a mix of veterans and young talent. Into this scenario steps Kershaw, who spent the offseason recovering from surgeries on his left knee and big toe.
“I don’t take it for granted I get to go out there and pitch at Dodger Stadium,” Clayton Kershaw said earlier this week. “It’ll be exciting to get back out there. Unfortunately, it comes at a time when we do need some starters.”
Clayton Kershaw is "feeling great and ready to go" ahead of his season debut for the @Dodgers on Saturday!
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) May 15, 2025
The 3x Cy Young winner joined #MLBTonight to detail the journey back to full health, his expectations moving forward and much more. pic.twitter.com/qM4GTpwZCY
Kershaw’s presence adds not just experience, but also a sense of calm to the rotation, which currently includes Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tony Gonsolin, Dustin May, and Landon Knack. After five rehab starts, including a strong four-inning outing for Triple-A Oklahoma City last weekend, the three-time Cy Young winner feels physically ready. “Those last few rehab starts I was more concerned about throwing well and getting guys out than I was how my foot felt. I think that was a good sign for me physically,” he noted.
Saturday's start will mark Kershaw’s 18th season with the Dodgers, tying him with franchise legends Zack Wheat and Bill Russell. He remains the longest-tenured player on the current roster, and he’s now just 32 strikeouts away from joining the elite 3,000-strikeout club.
While the comeback is emotional, Kershaw knows performance is the ultimate metric. “If I go out there and don’t pitch good, it’s going to go away real fast,” he said. “Somebody’ll tell me to retire at some point.”
Exclusive: .@THEREAL_DV is joined by Clayton Kershaw to talk about his return to the mound this Saturday!
— AM 570 LA Sports (@AM570LASports) May 14, 2025
"I didn't want an injury to be the reason that I stop."
🔗: https://t.co/aMGOvCT0fq pic.twitter.com/uBAwHwKnbZ
Retirement, in fact, has been a topic he's reflected on. “I think not letting an injury be the reason I stop, I think that's probably the main thing,” Kershaw shared during a recent radio appearance. Yet, he acknowledged that if he can’t contribute meaningfully, he might step away. “If another hitter gets the best of me, that's one thing. But I'm not going to let myself do it to myself.”
Beyond the stats, Kershaw is cherishing his return, especially after the Dodgers released longtime teammate Austin Barnes. “It’s sad to see someone like that go,” he said, showing his human side as much as his competitive one.
For now, though, all eyes are on Saturday—when a Dodgers icon picks up the ball once more, determined to make every pitch count.
Also Read: Minnesota Twins dominate Orioles to claim 11th consecutive win, closing in on franchise history
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