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Should the Dodgers give Kershaw one final World Series moment? 
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw. Steven Bisig-Imagn Images

Should the Dodgers give Clayton Kershaw one final World Series moment? 

By Mike J. Asti  |  Last updated Oct 24, 2025 4:29 PM ET

Add the question "Will Clayton Kershaw pitch?" to the list of storylines associated with the 2025 World Series matchup between the Toronto Blue Jays and Los Angeles Dodgers. 

Seeing Kershaw on the mound one final time on baseball's biggest stage is a possibility, granted it's not something that's guaranteed to happen either. 

If used, Clayton Kershaw will come out of the bullpen 

Despite being officially added to the Dodgers' World Series roster, Los Angeles manager Dave Roberts still doesn't appear to have a clearly defined plan for Kershaw, or at least not one he's interested in disclosing. Kershaw is not part of Los Angeles' starting rotation and was just designated as a possible bullpen arm in relief. 

But Kershaw could still help if called upon. 

Even though he's far from the phenom who was once arguing as the best pitcher in all of baseball, the three-time National League Cy Young winner still posted an 11-2 record with a respectable 3.36 ERA in 23 total appearances in 2025.

That said, he has only been used once throughout Los Angeles' postseason run to this point, largely due to the Dodgers having a deep staff and winning without having to turn to their 37-year-old future Hall of Famer. 

Kershaw's only appearance came in the Dodgers' only loss in their National League Division Series. He entered the game in the seventh inning and proceeded to give up six hits, two home runs and be credited with four earned runs against him in two innings. 

Sending Kershaw to the mound could be a risk 

Aside from the nostalgia of sending Kershaw to the mound to close his career in the World Series, there could be a concern of not wanting to put a legend in a position to hurt his team when it matters the most. Kershaw's overall resume stacks up with many legendary names, but he has been roughed up in the playoffs before. 

Kershaw's postseason ERA is 4.63, which is a far cry from the 2.53 mark for his regular-season career. He was once heavily criticized for his postseason struggles, a criticism that even persisted during pennant-winning years, and only subsided when Kershaw won his first championship as part of the Dodgers' World Series win in the shortened 2020 season. 

It was actually that 2020 playoff run that Kershaw registered his best ERA from a single postseason of 2.93, although still below his normal standards. In fact, 2020 is the only World Series the Dodgers have won that Kershaw has pitched in. 

He also pitched in the World Series in both 2017 and 2018, with Los Angeles losing to the Astros and the Red Sox, respectively. Kershaw owns a second World Series ring from 2024, but was injured and did not take part in last year's triumph over the New York Yankees.  

While Dodgers fans want to see another championship above all else, seeing the franchise icon one last time would be a nice bonus as well.  

No matter what, Kershaw's legacy as an all-time great was secured long ago. 

Mike J. Asti
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Mike Asti is an experienced media personality and journalist with a vast resume and skillset, most notably from time with TribLIVE Radio and WPXI-TV. Asti now serves as the Managing Editor of WV Sports Now, where he leads the coverage of WVU sports. He has also covered the Steelers, Penguins, Pirates and other teams within the Pittsburgh market

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