With an outstanding performance from veteran left-hander Clayton Kershaw, the Dodgers have achieved their main goal of the season, securing a place in the playoffs.
This victory is even more relevant given that Clayton Kershaw announced his retirement at the end of the season, a sensitive loss for the Dodgers
Dodger Stadium experienced one of those nights that will remain in the memory of the Los Angeles fans. With a 6-3 victory over the Giants, the Dodgers secured their playoff berth and at the same time celebrated Clayton Kershaw’s last start of the regular season.
Clayton Kershaw says goodbye to the Dodgers and MLB
The 37-year-old left-hander, considered a future Hall of Famer, put the finishing touch on his last regular season as a professional baseball player.
Although his work was limited to 4.1 innings, Kershaw showed his usual grit: he allowed two runs, struck out six batters and left the mound to a rousing ovation that echoed throughout the stadium.
Manager Dave Roberts entrusted the rest of the game to the bullpen, a strategy that proved enough to secure the 87th victory of the campaign.
With this result, the Dodgers maintained their dominance in the division and became one of the most consistent teams in Major League Baseball, securing their 13th consecutive postseason berth.
Clayton Kershaw’s MLB legacy
Clayton Kershaw leaves a mark not only for his numbers, but for what he represented on and off the field. Over 18 seasons, the left-hander accumulated three Cy Young Awards, one MVP and two World Series titles. This year, despite workload management, he went 10-2 in 21 starts with a 3.55 ERA.
While his strikeout rate (77 in 106.1 innings) was the lowest of his career, Kershaw proved that even with physical limitations he was able to remain competitive and be a key part of the Angels’ rotation.
Now, the Dodgers will have to focus on October where expectations remain sky high as one of the leading title contenders. Having dominated the National League West, albeit with a few stumbles, Los Angeles rekindles hopes for its fans to repeat last season’s feat and be crowned 2025 World Series champions
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