Clayton Kershaw is entering his final stretch with the Los Angeles Dodgers after announcing last week that he plans to retire at the end of the 2025 season.
The left-hander is set to make his final regular-season start against the Seattle Mariners on Sunday before the Dodgers head into the playoffs.
Kershaw has been effective this season but likely won’t have a starting role in the postseason due to the Dodgers’ surplus of options.
The left-hander, like Emmet Sheehan and potentially Roki Sasaki, could contribute out of the bullpen when the Dodgers begin postseason play.
“He’s definitely a realistic option,” Roberts said of Kershaw possibly moving to the bullpen. “[Wednesday] is probably the last day he’ll be a viable option, given his start on Sunday.
“[Wednesday] he’ll be available in the ‘pen and he’s open to whatever we need.”
Kershaw was in the bullpen when the Dodgers began a three-game series with the Arizona Diamondbacks on Tuesday. He would normally throw a side session on Wednesday to prepare for his final start, but that could come in the form a relief appearance at Chase Field.
Kershaw has made just 10 relief appearances in his career, including seven during the postseason. He pitched out of the bullpen in the playoffs at least once from 2016-2019.
“He brought it to me, and I said that’s a great idea,” Roberts said of Kershaw possibly pitching out of the bullpen against the Diamondbacks.
“He was comfortable and we have a couple-day window in the regular season that wouldn’t impact his Sunday start, so I thought it was a good idea and I supported it.”
As for Kershaw’s potential role in the bullpen this year, Roberts said he is still determining what that would look like.
“That’s kind of TBD, honestly,” Roberts noted. “I think anything should be on the table with covering innings.”
Clayton Kershaw open to helping Dodgers bullpen
After his final regular-season start at Dodger Stadium last week, Kershaw indicated he is open to pitching out of the bullpen in the playoffs.
“I’ve got one more start in Seattle and then our team is honestly stacked with pitching right now,” Kershaw began. “I think our rotation has been throwing the ball as the best in the league, so I can do the math. I know there’s only so many spots.
“I’m just going to try to pitch well in Seattle and we’ll see what happens. But either way, we’re going to try and win the World Series.
“Andrew, Doc and all those guys are going to make the right decisions to try and help us. I’m ready and willing to do whatever I can to help.”
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