Clayton Kershaw will not return in 2024

5:15 p.m.: Kershaw spoke to reporters (including Ardaya) about the injury this afternoon and revealed that his attempts to recover from the injury had worsened the condition of his toe. Kershaw added that offseason surgery to treat the bone spurs was “under discussion,” but indicated that no decision had been made on the matter at this time. When addressing his future, Kershaw indicated that he still enjoys pitching but didn't want to discuss his plans in detail until after the season ends.

3:33 p.m.: The Dodgers are scheduled to begin Game 1 of the NLDS against the Padres later tonight, and among the pitchers notably missing from their roster for the series is the veteran southpaw Clayton Kershaw. That's no surprise considering he's reportedly targeting a return sometime in mid-October, but today manager Dave Roberts told reporters (including Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register) that the Dodgers will actually be without Kershaw for the entire postseason. Plunkett adds that, according to Roberts, the bone spurs in Kershaw's big toe have not improved since he went on the IL in August, adding that the situation may have even gotten worse since then.

The news officially ends an injury-plagued season for Kershaw, who finished the 2024 season with a 4.50 ERA (87 ERA+) and 3.87 FIP in 30 innings across seven starts while striking out just 18% of opponents. This is by far the lowest strikeout rate of his career and the first time his ERA+ has been below average since his rookie season in 2008, when his 98 ERA+ was just a hair below average. While low walk and home run rates help save some of Kershaw's fringe players, 2024 will still go down as the worst season of the veteran's career to date, although given the small sample size it is difficult to draw conclusions about his abilities if he is healthy enough Take the hill.

Kershaw holds a $10 million player option for the 2025 season. However, after occasionally considering retirement in recent offseasons, it is not yet clear whether he will use that option or leave the decision on his future until later will wait in winter. Should he decide to continue his career through 2025, the future Hall of Famer will surely be welcomed back by the only team he's ever known, in an offseason where the club is certain to be looking for rotational additions Tyler Glasnow, Yoshinobu YamamotoAnd Gavin Stone also included in the starting rotation in 2025 Shohei Ohtaniwhose return to the mound will likely require a switch to a six-man staff.

In the meantime, however, the Dodgers will have to piece together production from a rotation that offers little security outside of Yamamoto and the deadline acquisition Jack Flaherty throughout the postseason. A fight Walker Buhler (5.38 ERA in 16 starts) and rookie Landon Knack (3.65 ERA in 69 frames this year) are considered the club's most likely starting options to fill out the rotation behind Yamamoto and Flaherty, who will start in Games 1 and 2, respectively.

Except for Kershaw, right-handed Joe Kelly was also left off the club's NLDS roster. It was a difficult year for Kelly, who allowed a 4.78 ERA in 35 relief appearances while battling injuries. That includes a shoulder problem that bothered him in the final weeks of the season, and Roberts told reporters (including The Athletic's Fabian Ardaya) that the veteran right-hander won't be available for at least the World Series after being injured Had a shoulder tweak during a simulated game this week. Without Kelly on the roster, the Dodgers are considered rookies Edgardo Henriquez to fill out their bullpen for the NLDS.