Download our Free Mobile App!
Faster with Fewer Ads

Get App
Dodger Blue
  • Dodgers News
    • MLB News
  • Rumors
  • Schedules
    • 2025 Dodger Stadium giveaways
    • 2025 regular season
    • 2026 regular season
  • Team
    • Active roster
    • Salaries
  • Video
  • Odds
    • MLB Odds
    • NHL Odds
    • NFL Odds
    • NBA Odds
    • NCAAF Odds
    • NCAAB Odds
    • CFL Odds
    • UFC Odds
    • Boxing Odds
    • MLS Odds
    • PGA Odds
  • About
    • Terms of Service
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact

Download our Free Mobile App!
Faster with Fewer Ads

Get App
Dodger Blue
  • Dodgers News
    • MLB News
  • Rumors
  • Schedules
    • 2025 Dodger Stadium giveaways
    • 2025 regular season
    • 2026 regular season
  • Team
    • Active roster
    • Salaries
  • Video
  • Odds
    • MLB Odds
    • NHL Odds
    • NFL Odds
    • NBA Odds
    • NCAAF Odds
    • NCAAB Odds
    • CFL Odds
    • UFC Odds
    • Boxing Odds
    • MLS Odds
    • PGA Odds
  • About
    • Terms of Service
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact
  • Dodgers News
  • Rumors
  • Schedules
  • Team
  • Video
  • Odds
  • About
Search
  • Dodgers News
    • MLB News
  • Rumors
  • Schedules
    • 2025 Dodger Stadium giveaways
    • 2025 regular season
    • 2026 regular season
  • Team
    • Active roster
    • Salaries
  • Video
  • Odds
    • MLB Odds
    • NHL Odds
    • NFL Odds
    • NBA Odds
    • NCAAF Odds
    • NCAAB Odds
    • CFL Odds
    • UFC Odds
    • Boxing Odds
    • MLS Odds
    • PGA Odds
  • About
    • Terms of Service
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact
Follow US
© 2024 Medium Large Sports Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
Dodger Blue > Dodgers News > Freddie Freeman: Removing Clayton Kershaw From Final Start ‘One Of My Favorite Baseball Moments’
Dodgers News

Freddie Freeman: Removing Clayton Kershaw From Final Start ‘One Of My Favorite Baseball Moments’

Matt Borelli
September 29, 2025
4 Min Read
SHARE

Clayton Kershaw went out on top in his final regular-season start for the Los Angeles Dodgers by throwing 5.1 scoreless innings against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park.

The left-hander allowed just five baserunners (four hits, one walk) and recorded seven strikeouts on 94 pitches. Kershaw fittingly ended his outing with a strikeout by getting Eugenio Suárez to chase a slider out of the zone.

Freddie Freeman, who had already exited the game, then emerged from the Dodgers dugout to make the pitching change after a long embrace with Kershaw on the mound.

Freeman was honored that manager Dave Roberts let him go out there and called it one of the highlights of his career, via SportsNet LA:

“For Doc to let me be a part of it in that moment, those are the ones that will choke you up as you think about things that you were able to do in your baseball career. To be able to take, in my opinion, the greatest pitcher of our generation out of his last regular-season start, I think that might be up there as one of my favorite baseball moments that I’ve had. For him to do what he did today, five and a third, end it with a strikeout, very, very fitting for Clayton and happy to be a part of it.”

Freeman detailed his exchange with Kershaw and made sure to tell him what he has meant to the Dodgers organization for so many years:

“Yeah, I said I wanted the ball. And he said no, which I understood. I just told him I loved him and just said thank you and let him have his moment. What he’s done on this baseball field, he’s left everything out there on that mound. Eighteen years, he’s been incredible. So all we can really do is just hug him and tell him what he means to all of us.”

Freeman has only been with the Dodgers for four seasons but he was a natural choice to take the ball from Kershaw due to their history over the years and the fact that they are two of the most respected players of their generation.

Along with the celebratory moment with teammates, Sunday’s start also saw Kershaw’s wife, Ellen, and their two oldest children, Cali Ann and Charley in attendance. So too were former Dodgers pitching coach Rick Honeycutt and former teammate and close friend A.J. Ellis.

Will Clayton Kershaw pitch in playoffs?

Because he made a normal start on Sunday, Kershaw won’t be included on the Dodgers’ roster for the Wild Card Series against the Cincinnati Reds.

In the event that L.A. advances to the next round, the three-time Cy Young Award winner would become an option for a possible bullpen role.

Have you subscribed to the Dodger Blue YouTube channel? Be sure to ring the notification bell to watch player interviews, participate in shows and giveaways, and stay up to date on all Dodgers news and rumors!

Total
0
Shares
Share 0
Tweet 0
Pin it 0
Share 0
TAGGED:Clayton KershawFreddie FreemanLos Angeles Dodgers
ByMatt Borelli
Matt Borelli covers the Los Angeles Dodgers as a staff writer for Dodger Blue and holds similar responsibilities for Lakers Nation, a sister site with an emphasis on the Los Angeles Lakers. He also contributes to RamsNewswire.com and RaidersNewswire.com. An avid fantasy sports player, Matt is a former 2014 MLB Beat the Streak co-champion. His favorite Dodgers moment, among a list of many, is Clayton Kershaw's no-hitter against the Colorado Rockies in 2014. Follow him on Twitter: @mcborelli.
Ad imageAd image
Sign Up for Our Newsletter
Get breaking Dodgers News direct to your inbox.

You Might Also Like

Freddie Freeman
Dodgers News

Dodgers News: Freddie Freeman Found Confidence Against Pirates All-Star Paul Skenes

May 13, 2025
May 14, 2025
Matt Kemp
Dodgers NewsFeatured

Matt Kemp Names Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman & Shohei Ohtani Among Favorite Players

August 15, 2024
August 15, 2024
Chris Taylor
Dodgers NewsFeatured

Chris Taylor Update: Return Expected When Dodgers Begin Road Trip

July 14, 2023
July 14, 2023
Ryan Pepiot
Dodgers NewsFeatured

Dodgers Teammates Made Ryan Pepiot Aware Of Perfect Game

September 8, 2023
September 8, 2023

Categories

  • News
  • Rumors
  • Games
  • History

Information

  • Advertise
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us

Sign Up for Our Newsletter

Get breaking Dodgers News direct to your inbox.

© 2025 Medium Large Sports Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?

  • 日本語
  • 한국어