Since Clayton Kershaw pitched his last start on Friday, questions around his postseason availability kept bothering fans. The man himself has answered.

Clayton Kershaw stood before Dodgers fans with a reminder that the journey isn’t finished yet. At 37, Kershaw got a strong start with a 10-2 record and a 3.55 ERA. Now in his 18th year with the Dodgers, he’s once again carrying the weight of October expectations!

After what could be his final regular-season home start, Kershaw grabbed the mic and, over the roar of the crowd, delivered the message fans have been waiting for. “It’s been an amazing 18 years. I want to thank everyone for being here today, and I wish I had more to say other than it’s just been incredible and I wouldn’t want it any other way… Remember, we’ve got another month left. We’ll see you at the end of October.” It was more than a statement of farewell.

The last regular season start of Kershaw proved that he still has fuel to run through the postseason. On Friday, he pitched for 4.1 innings and, most notably, he struck out Giants’ slugger Rafael Devers. The night ended with the Dodgers winning by 6-3 against the Giants. The final scoreline showed Kershaw finished with four hits, four walks, six SOs, and two earned runs! A good show indeed!

And now, with numbers on his side, Kershaw’s heartwarming message melted hearts. Yet, there are more questions to be answered post-Kershaw’s postseason confirmation…

The big question is whether he’ll be part of the Dodgers’ postseason rotation. With Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell, and Tyler Glasnow locked into playoff spots if healthy, that already makes four starters. Add in Emmet Sheehan, who’s put up better numbers than Kershaw, the competition gets even tougher. So what’s next?

The Dodgers are spoiled with reliable starters, including Kershaw

With Blake Snell, Yamamoto, and Glasnow all available to start, along with Shohei Ohtani at his two-way prime, and Roki Sasaki set to return, the Dodgers are filled with all the big names in the starting rotation. “Our team is honestly stacked with pitching right now,” Kershaw acknowledged the reality. “I think our rotation is the best in the league right now. I can do the math, and I know there are only so many spots.”

However, the Dodgers manager, Dave Roberts, assured that there’s a chance of Kershaw playing in the postseason. “I still feel there is a role for him, a spot for him.”

Reportedly, Kershaw might find himself in a new role this October. A role in the bullpen! And if that happens, he would be coming out of the bullpen for the first time since 2019, and just the third time in his 18-year career. The last time he did it was in the 2019 NLDS against the Nationals, where he visibly struggled.

It’s no secret that Clayton Kershaw’s postseason track record doesn’t match his regular-season dominance. His playoff ERA sits at 4.49 across 39 games, nearly two runs higher than his career 2.54 ERA in the regular season. Still, a shift to the bullpen could give the veteran one last chance to reinvent himself. And it might be exactly what the Dodgers need to patch up a shaky relief corps.