Clayton Kershaw's Season Comes to a Heartbreaking End for Dodgers
In a disappointing turn of events for Los Angeles Dodgers fans, Clayton Kershaw, the team's ace pitcher, has been officially ruled out for the remainder of the 2024 season. This news was confirmed by manager Dave Roberts ahead of Game 1 of the National League Division Series against the San Diego Padres. At 36 years old, Kershaw is a celebrated three-time Cy Young Award winner and a ten-time All-Star. However, after struggling with a toe injury that has plagued him since late August, the team has decided it’s best to sideline him for the playoffs.
Kershaw returned to the mound on July 25 after undergoing offseason shoulder surgery, but his comeback was short-lived. He found himself on the injured list once again on August 31 due to a bone spur in his left big toe. Manager Roberts emphasized that Kershaw has fought hard to be part of the postseason. “Clayton has done everything he can to keep this thing moving forward,” Roberts stated. “But where he’s at right now, physically, the foot, the toe just is not cooperating. It’s actually getting worse.” This was a sentiment echoed by Kershaw himself during a batting practice session, where he lamented that pitching was simply not an option given his current condition.
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The setback is particularly hard for Kershaw, who has been eager to redeem himself after last year's postseason struggles. In the 2023 playoffs, he endured a difficult outing against the Arizona Diamondbacks, allowing six runs in the first inning of Game 1. With a postseason ERA of 4.22 over 194 innings pitched, Kershaw has faced challenges in the playoffs, contrasting sharply with his impressive regular-season ERA of 2.48, the best of any Major League Baseball pitcher with at least 1,500 innings pitched since 1920.
In the absence of their star pitcher, catcher Will Smith shared his disappointment, saying, “It stinks he’s not going to be able to pitch for us. He’ll be here every day, I know cheering us on, being in the clubhouse, helping us out whatever way he can.” Kershaw signed a one-year contract with the Dodgers in February, which includes a player option for 2025 worth $5 million. As the offseason approaches, he indicated he will be weighing his future, saying, “I don’t want to keep getting hurt all the time, it’s not fun to do that, but I also really love to pitch, too.”
This news not only affects the Dodgers' playoff aspirations but also raises questions about Kershaw’s future in baseball. The decision to exclude him from the postseason roster is a tough pill to swallow for the organization and its fans. As the Dodgers prepare to face the Padres, they will undoubtedly feel the absence of Kershaw on the mound, as well as his leadership and experience in the clubhouse. With the stakes higher than ever, the team must rally together, knowing they are entering the playoffs without one of their most iconic players. As Kershaw contemplates the next steps in his career, fans can only hope that this isn’t the final chapter in the storied legacy of one of baseball's greatest pitchers.
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