Kershaw Makes Emotional Final Home Start for Dodgers

The cameras and memories will be on full display Friday night as Los Angeles Dodgers icon Clayton Kershaw takes the mound for the final regular-season home start of his 18-year career.

Kershaw, 37, announced Thursday that this will be his last season in the majors. His farewell outing comes against a familiar rival, the San Francisco Giants, a team he has faced more than any other. Over 62 appearances and 60 starts, the left-hander has dominated San Francisco with a 27-16 record and a 2.08 ERA across 407 1/3 innings.

The Dodgers (86-67) enter the matchup holding a three-game lead in the National League West over the San Diego Padres. On Thursday, Los Angeles opened the series with a 2-1 victory after six pitchers combined to limit the Giants to just one hit.

Kershaw Reflects on Final Season

Still effective at 10-2 with a 3.53 ERA through 20 starts this year, Kershaw had signaled early that 2025 would be his last. He confirmed the decision with teammates this week and made it official in a group text Thursday morning.

“The game itself, I’m going to miss a lot, but I’ll be OK without that,” Kershaw said. “I think the hard part is the feeling after a win, celebrating with you guys. That’s pretty special.”

First baseman Freddie Freeman acknowledged the emotional weight of the news. “I think today, we’ve barely scratched the surface of the emotions,” he said.

Kershaw has earned 117 of his 222 career wins at Dodger Stadium and struck out his 3,000th batter on the home mound in July against the Chicago White Sox. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts credited the veteran as essential to the team’s success: “I don’t know how the rest of the season is going to play out, but we certainly wouldn’t be in this position in the standings if it weren’t for (Kershaw). I’m certain of that.”

Giants Still in Playoff Hunt

The Giants (76-77) arrive in Los Angeles with their own urgency, sitting three games out of the final NL wild-card spot. After Thursday’s defeat, San Francisco has just over a week left to close the gap.

Catcher Patrick Bailey delivered the team’s only hit Thursday, while the Giants drew 10 walks but struck out 14 times and scored just once. It was the first time since August 16 that they lost a game while allowing two runs or fewer.

San Francisco will counter on Friday with left-hander Robbie Ray (11-7, 3.50 ERA). In his last outing, Ray was tagged for five runs over four innings in a 10-2 loss to the Dodgers. He admitted his mechanics faltered.

“I felt, out of the stretch, a little bit like my front side was getting a little too quick,” Ray said. “I was missing a lot arm-side. I just wasn’t able to really get on top of it like I was out of the windup. I was just kind of fighting that all day, really.”

Ray has started 24 career games against Los Angeles—his most against any opponent—compiling a 9-7 record with a 3.54 ERA.