The debate and discussion around the Dodgers’ starting rotation in the upcoming playoffs is still ongoing. There’s no concrete news on whether Roki Sasaki is getting a place upon returning, and if Shohei Ohtani will start or close. And amid this chaos, pitching legend Clayton Kershaw announced his retirement post this season. This means the Friday game against the Giants is going to be his last. But will this game be his career last or last regular-season start?

Well, Kershaw is not known for postseason heroics. Notably, in the postseason, Kershaw has a 4.49 ERA over 39 games (32 starts), which is almost two full runs higher than his career 2.54 ERA in the regular season. Hence, in the playoffs, he’s looked less like a dominant ace and more like a back-end starter. But are the Dodgers capable enough not to miss his absence? Manager Dave Roberts knows the reality, and he hinted at a postseason role for the veteran.

“I feel that there’s a place for him on our postseason roster,” manager Dave Roberts said earlier this week. “I don’t know what role, but I think that the bottom line is, I trust him. And so, for me, the postseason is about players you trust.”

So, even if it’s not the starting role, the Dodgers are open to letting Kershaw play the postseason as a closer. And now, this is not about honoring Kershaw but for the team’s need. Check Tuesday’s loss against the Phillies, and you’ll know what the Dodgers’ bullpen is all about. The bullpen allowed 8 runs that day! It also forced the team to think about placing Ohtani as a closer.

Hence, getting someone like Kershaw in the bullpen despite his 4.49 ERA in the postseason serves the Dodgers.

Moreover, big names in the Dodgers bullpen like Blake Treinen (4.70 ERA) and Tanner Scott (5.88 ERA in September) are clearly struggling; it is in their best interest that Roberts hinted about a closing role for Kershaw.

One last run for Kershaw to redeem himself

In seven of these 32 starts in the postseason, Clayton Kershaw had allowed 5 or more runs, which comes to around 22%! That’s surely a ridiculous number, and 2025 might be the last chance for the man to ask for his redemption.

As per the Dodgers’ official announcement, Kershaw will hang up his boots post this season. There’s no word about his availability in the postseason. But we think Kershaw should go for one last run to rectify his postseason numbers.

Kershaw has proven he can deliver in October. In the 2017 World Series, he dominated Game 1 with seven innings of one-run ball, then threw four scoreless innings in relief in Game 7. Though the Dodgers lost the series, he shone in key moments. Now, the challenge is to finish strong before his time at the park ends.