Los Angles Dodgers left-hander Clayton Kershaw (toe) declined his $5 million option for the 2025 season on Monday to officially become a free agent. However, Kershaw said he will be pitching for the World Series-champion Dodgers again next year no matter what. Especially after getting his second ring, the future Hall of Fame southpaw will return to LA in 2025 for what is likely to be his last year in the big leagues before hanging up his cleats. The three-time Cy Young winner and former MVP hasn't been healthy much in recent years but has still been serviceable for fantasy managers in the limited amount of time he's been on the mound. The 36-year-old made only seven starts for the Dodgers in 2024 and went 2-2 with a career-worst 4.50 ERA and 1.50 WHIP with 24 strikeouts and nine walks in 30 innings. Bone spurs in his left big toe prevented him from pitching at all in the run to the World Series title.
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw is set to undergo two surgeries on Wednesday, one on his toe and the other on his meniscus in his left knee according to Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic. The 36-year-old was able to only log 30 innings of work this season as he was limited by numerous injuries. As a result the 36-year-old remains without a definite timetable heading into the 2025 campaign. Earlier in October, the three-time Cy Young Winner and now two-time World Champion noted that he intends to pitch in 2025 as he sits just 32 strikeouts away from 3,000. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor the southpaw's progression over the offseason as he may have another delayed start to his season.
Clayton Kershaw Plans To Continue Pitching In 2025
Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander Clayton Kershaw (toe) said on the FOX pre-game show before Game 2 of the National League Championship Series on Monday at Dodger Stadium against the New York Mets that he plans to pitch again next year. "Mentally, I feel great. I had shoulder surgery last offseason, and my shoulder and elbow, everything, my arm, feels great. Obviously, I had some tough luck with my foot this year. But I want to make use of this surgery. I don't want to have surgery and shut it down. So I'm gonna come back next year and give it a go and see how it goes," Kershaw said. The 36-year-old three-time Cy Young winner only made seven starts (30 innings) this year after returning from his shoulder surgery and was shut down in late August due to a bone spur in his left big toe. The future Hall of Famer can still be useful when healthy in fantasy, but the injuries are piling up and he's not getting any younger.
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw (toe) will not pitch again this season, according to David Vassegh of SportsNet LA. Kershaw was originally targeting a return late into October but faced a setback last week and will remain sidelined regardless of how far the Dodgers go in the playoffs. The southpaw had a delayed start to the 2024 season due to offseason surgery and logged just 30 innings with a 4.50 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP before suffering a bone spur in his toe. The Dodgers rotation during the playoffs will now consist of Jack Flaherty, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Walker Buehler, and Landon Knack. Yamamoto will get the nod in Game 1 of the NLDS on Saturday evening and is best to fade in DFS as he will face a San Diego lineup that holds a stellar 16.9% K rate against right-handed pitching.
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw (toe) is not on the NLDS roster, according to David Vassegh of SportsNet LA. Kershaw hit the injured list at the end of August with a bone spur in his toe. The southpaw began to make progress in September but faced a minor setback last week and will need at least another week to recover before taking the mound. As a result, the Dodgers will enter the NLDS with Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Jack Flaherty, Walker Buehler, and Landon Knack as their starters. Kershaw had a delayed start to the 2024 campaign due to offseason surgery and was only able to log 30 innings to the tune of a 4.50 ERA and 1.50 WHIP.
Clayton Kershaw Faces Setback, Remains Without Definitive Timetable
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw (toe) will not be available for at least "a couple of weeks," according to Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic. Kershaw logged a successful bullpen session last week and looked poised to return for the playoffs but now faces a setback. Kershaw was already ruled out for the remainder of the regular season but could be in danger of missing the entire postseason depending on how far the Dodgers go. The southpaw was diagnosed with a bone spur in his toe on August 31 and was placed on the 15-day IL. The three-time Cy Young winner underwent offseason shoulder surgery, which delayed his 2024 debut until July 25. Through his 30 innings of work this summer, Kershaw posted a 4.50 ERA and 1.50 WHIP. Fantasy managers participating in postseason competitions should not consider selecting Kershaw as he faces an uphill battle to return to the mound.
Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that left-hander Clayton Kershaw (toe) is in "a holding pattern," and there are currently no plans for him to face live hitters. "I'll pitch when I can pitch," Kershaw said. The 36-year-old future Hall of Famer threw a 30-pitch bullpen session last Friday, but the fact that there are no plans for him to progress to the next step of his throwing progression likely means that he isn't going to be an option for LA's pitching staff once the playoffs begin. There's a good chance the Dodgers will have a first-round bye, but even then, Kershaw needs more time to build his arm up. Kershaw's injured big left toe -- he was dealing with a bone spur in it -- isn't 100% healed and he hasn't started a big-league game since Aug. 30. After recovering from offseason shoulder surgery, Kershaw has managed to make only seven starts in 2024 for the Blue.
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw (toe) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session ahead of Friday's game against the Colorado Rockies. The left-hander has been sidelined since late-August due to a big toe issue. It's worth noting that Kershaw threw an 80-pitch bullpen session on Wednesday. It sounds like Kershaw is making progress, but it's unclear if he'll be ready before the end of the regular season. Fantasy managers are unlikely to get anything from Kershaw at this point, but at least he could contribute to the Dodgers postseason run.
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw (toe) was seen throwing off a mound on Wednesday, according to David Vassegh of SportsNet LA. The 36-year-old has been sidelined since late August due to a bone spur in his toe and is already starting to make significant progress in his recovery. The team has expressed that they do not expect the three-time Cy Young winner to return in the regular season but hope he will be available in October. Kershaw underwent offseason elbow surgery and missed a majority of the 2024 season before returning in late July. Through 30 innings this season, he has held a 4.50 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP. Kershaw would bring a much-needed boost to a decimated Dodger rotation in the playoffs.
Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander Clayton Kershaw (toe) has thrown off a portable mound but is still dealing with pain in his toe. Kershaw was placed on the 15-day injured list on Aug. 31 with a bone spur in his left big toe. It's good news that the 36-year-old future Hall of Famer is throwing off a mound, but the fact that he still has pain in his toe probably makes him more of a long shot to return to the Dodgers' starting rotation before the end of September. And depending on how Kershaw recovers from here on out, there's a realistic chance he won't be stretched out enough to be considered an option in the playoffs. The three-time Cy Young winner and former MVP had offseason shoulder surgery and has only made seven starts in 2024, going 2-2 with a 4.50 ERA, a 1.50 WHIP and a 24:9 K:BB in 30 innings pitched for the Blue.
