Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw (22) pitches during the first inning against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on July 26. Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images

Clayton Kershaw is Set to Make A Bunch of Money For His Start on Friday, Here's Why

Originally posted on Fastball on SI | By Brady Farkas | Last updated Aug 8, 2025 4:50 PM ET

When Clayton Kershaw of the Los Angeles Dodgers matches up with Max Scherzer of the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday night in LA, it will be more than just a battle of future Hall of Famers. It will also be a very lucrative payday for Kershaw.

Per @Spotrac on social media:

When #Dodgers SP Clayton Kershaw takes the mound tonight he'll lock in a $1M bonus for making 13 starts.

He can add another $1M each for 14, 15, 16 starts, and is also 1-week away from fully vesting $4.5M of days-active bonus, putting him on track to max out his $16M contract.

When #Dodgers SP Clayton Kershaw takes the mound tonight he'll lock in a $1M bonus for making 13 starts.

He can add another $1M each for 14, 15, 16 starts, and is also 1-week away from fully vesting $4.5M of days-active bonus, putting him on track to max out his $16M contract.
— Spotrac (@spotrac) August 8, 2025

One of the best pitchers of his generation, Kershaw is in his 18th year with the Dodgers. An 11-time All-Star, a five-time ERA champion and a three-time Cy Young winner, Kershaw has also won an MVP, a Triple Crown and a Gold Glove.

He's gone 217-96 for his career and is 5-2 this season with a 3.29 ERA. He's made 13 starts, battling injury over the last several years. He hasn't made more than 24 starts in a season since 2019, though he did make 10 in the COVID-shortened 2020 season.

Scherzer and Kershaw were teammates briefly in 2021 when Scherzer played in Los Angeles after the trade deadline. He went 7-0 with a 1.98 ERA in LA, though the Dodgers were upended in the playoffs.

Scherzer won a World Series in 2019 with the Nationals and Kershaw has won two in LA (2020 and 2024).

First pitch is set for 10:10 p.m. ET.

This article first appeared on Fastball on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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