18 years, countless memories, and it all came full circle at Dodger Stadium. Clayton Kershaw’s final regular-season home start wasn’t just another game—it felt like a chapter closing in real time. The crowd barely had time to settle before Shohei Ohtani launched his 52nd homer of the season, a three-run blast that sent the stadium into a frenzy. By the fifth, Mookie Betts added his own fireworks with a solo shot, padding the lead. And when the Dodgers wrapped up a 6-3 win over the Giants, securing their postseason spot, it was the sendoff every fan hoped Kershaw would get on his home mound.

Magic Johnson, the co-owner of the Dodgers, celebrated the win on X, writing, “Cookie and I enjoyed watching @Dodgers legend, baseball great, and definitive future Hall of Famer Clayton Kershaw’s last regular season start! We were so happy to be at Dodger Stadium tonight to show our appreciation for Clayton’s 19 years with the Dodgers organization. He pitched a great game with 6 strikeouts!”

Kershaw’s night ended without a win, but not without a moment. In 4 1/3 innings, he allowed two runs on four hits, striking out six while walking four. The crowd of 53,037 rose to its feet as he walked off, showering him with a standing ovation that lingered long after he disappeared into the dugout. Manager Dave Roberts and his teammates met him with hugs, a fitting gesture for the legend’s last home start.

Earlier, the cheers had briefly turned to groans when Heliot Ramos opened the game with a solo homer and Wilmer Flores tacked on an RBI single in the third. By the time Kershaw left, the Dodgers trailed 2-1, but the scoreboard felt secondary to the moment.

Johnson summed it up perfectly on X: “Dodger Nation, our @Dodgers beat our archrivals the SF Giants 6-3 and clinched a Playoff berth!👏🏾” The win wasn’t just another notch in the standings; it marked L.A.’s 13th straight trip to October. And for the first time since 2021, the defending champs are staring at a Wild Card series. A victory over the Giants makes it all the sweeter.

The Dodgers–Giants rivalry isn’t just any baseball feud—it’s a saga that stretches back 135 years. Both teams came into existence in 1883, back when the Giants were the New York Gothams and the Dodgers were the Brooklyn Grays. By the time they first clashed in the 1889 World Series, they had already swapped names—the Brooklyn Bridegrooms versus the New York Giants.

The Bridegrooms struck first, taking Game 1, but the Giants had the last laugh, winning six of the nine games and the title. That year was just the beginning. Since then, it’s been a constant back-and-forth—moments of triumph, heartbreak, and bragging rights passed from one side to the other.

Still, the Giants couldn’t help but show respect before the game, sending Kershaw a note that read: “A remarkable competitor and one of the game’s greats. Congratulations on a legendary career, Clayton Kershaw.” And honestly, no team knows him better. Over his career, he’s faced San Francisco 62 times, going 27-16 with a 2.08 ERA across 407.1 innings, piling up 415 strikeouts, six complete games, and five shutouts. Add in the Padres’ loss to the White Sox, shrinking L.A.’s magic number, and it feels like the perfect full-circle moment in a rivalry that’s defined so much of his journey.

Clayton Kershaw: Dodger loyalty etched in history

Los Angeles doesn’t forget its legends, and loyalty is the thread that binds them. Kobe Bryant gave the Lakers 20 years, cementing his legacy with five titles and a statue outside the arena. Now, just across town, Clayton Kershaw steps into that same rare air. After 18 seasons in Dodger Blue, the three-time Cy Young winner will be joining Kobe on an exclusive list of LA icons who never wore another city’s jersey. As ESPN Los Angeles put it on X, “Loyalty is written in the stars in LA ✨ Clayton Kershaw and Anže Kopitar will join Kobe Bryant in an era of LEGENDS who spent their whole career in the City of Angels.”

And Kershaw’s résumé? It’s Cooperstown-level. He’s piled up 222 wins, three Cy Young Awards, an NL MVP, two World Series rings, and even a no-hitter in 2014 that many call one of the best ever thrown. He leaves with the lowest career ERA (2.54) of any pitcher who’s thrown 2,000+ innings since 1972, a .698 winning percentage (222–96), and a 1.02 WHIP—numbers that put him alongside Sandy Koufax and Pedro Martinez in baseball history. In July, he joined an elite club of just four left-handers to reach 3,000 strikeouts.

Through it all, Kershaw stayed the same shaggy-haired lefty with the high leg kick and hitch in his delivery, beloved by fans for his fire and his loyalty. “I’m at peace with it,” he said at an emotional press conference with his wife and kids at his side. “I think it’s the right time. It’s been a fun year. I’ve had such a blast with this group.” And as he leaves the mound for the last time, Dodgers fans know they’ve witnessed something special—loyalty that will echo in LA forever, right alongside Kobe’s.