Los Angeles Dodgers’ Clayton Kershaw, center, congratulates members of his team after the Dodgers defeated the San Francisco Giants in a baseball game Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw wipes his face as he speaks to the media after announcing his retirement at the end of the season prior to a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman, left, listens as pitcher Clayton Kershaw speaks to the media after announcing his retirement at the end of the season prior to a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Dodgers great Clayton Kershaw to pitch his last regular-season game
LOS ANGELES (AP) 鈥 Clayton Kershaw pitches the final regular-season game of his 18-year career with the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday in what figures to be an emotional night after announcing his decision to retire at season’s end.
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Clayton Kershaw, center, congratulates members of his team after the Dodgers defeated the San Francisco Giants in a baseball game Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
LOS ANGELES (AP) 鈥 Clayton Kershaw pitches the final regular-season game of his 18-year career with the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday in what figures to be an emotional night after announcing his decision to retire at season’s end.
The 37-year-old pitcher will be surrounded by his teammates, his wife and four children and fans who’ve watched him work his way through the Dodgers’ farm system to reach the majors at age 20 and go on to win as well as two World Series championships.
Along the way, he reached in July.
鈥淓verybody who is just a fan is going to wrap their arms around Clayton Kershaw,鈥 teammate Freddie Freeman said. “He deserves everything he鈥檚 going to get from the fans. It鈥檚 Clayton Kershaw鈥檚 night and I can鈥檛 wait to be a part of it.鈥
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There’s business to tend to as well.
The Dodgers’ magic number to clinch a playoff spot is six. Their opponent, the San Francisco Giants, trail the New York Mets by three games in the National League wild-card race.
鈥淭his game matters for both teams. Everybody’s still in it,鈥 Kershaw said. 鈥淚 got a job to do, so I’m going to go out and do my job. Thankfully, I’ll have that to distract me.鈥
While his velocity has dipped in recent years, Kershaw’s famed competitive fire still burns brightly.
鈥淲inning is always my favorite thing,鈥 he said.
Kershaw has battled injuries in recent years that made getting to this point all the harder. He missed all of the postseason last year, when the Dodgers beat the New York Yankees in the World Series.
鈥淣ot a lot of people get this opportunity,鈥 he said, 鈥渟o I鈥檓 just super grateful for it.鈥
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