Clayton Kershaw gave fans an emotional moment Friday night, admitting he is “mentally exhausted” as he inches closer to the end of his Hall of Fame career.
In what marked his final regular-season start at Dodger Stadium, the Los Angeles Dodgers ace pitched into the fifth inning against the San Francisco Giants, striking out slugger Rafael Devers before manager Dave Roberts walked out with a fist pump to pull him from the game.
Kershaw left the mound to a thunderous standing ovation, doffing his cap, waving to the crowd, and miming a hug toward his wife and children.
Kershaw’s emotional farewell
“I’m kind of mentally exhausted today, honestly, but it’s the best feeling in the world now,” the 36-year-old pitcher told reporters. “We got a win, we clinched a playoff berth, I got to stand on that mound one last time. I just can’t be more grateful.”
The Dodgers sealed a 6-3 victory behind home runs from Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, and Miguel Rojas, clinching their spot in the postseason. With a four-game lead over the San Diego Padres in the NL West, the team is on track to host a best-of-three Wild Card series.
Kershaw is expected to make at least one more regular-season start on the road, and potentially another at Dodger Stadium during the playoffs – depending on how deep the Dodgers go.
Kershaw is already a Dodgers icon
Across his 18 seasons, all with the Dodgers, Kershaw has compiled a stunning résumé: a 222-96 record, 2.54 ERA, and 3,045 strikeouts in 2,849 innings. His 2025 campaign hasn’t disappointed either, with a 10-2 record and 3.55 ERA over 21 starts.
Often compared to franchise icons like Sandy Koufax, Don Drysdale, and Don Sutton, Kershaw has cemented himself among the Dodgers’ all-time greats. While postseason struggles have sometimes haunted him, he remains a two-time World Series champion and the heartbeat of the Dodgers for nearly two decades.
As his career winds down, Kershaw is leaving with the same grace, grit, and gratitude that defined his time in Dodger blue.
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