Future Hall of Famer Clayton Kershaw Set to Join Rare Los Angeles Dodgers History This Weekend

Kershaw, who has been out while rehabbing from knee and toe issues, will make his 2025 debut on Saturday as the Dodgers take on the Los Angeles Angels.
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw looks during the game between the Texas Rangers and the Los Angeles Dodgers at Globe Life Field on April 20.
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw looks during the game between the Texas Rangers and the Los Angeles Dodgers at Globe Life Field on April 20. / Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
In this story:

After recovering from knee and toe issues, Los Angeles Dodgers legend Clayton Kershaw is set to make his big-league return on Saturday against the Los Angeles Angels.

And when he does, he'll be a part of some unique and special team history, according to Sarah Langs of MLB.com:

This will be Clayton Kershaw’s 18th season appearing in at least one MLB game for the Dodgers, tying Bill Russell and Zack Wheat for the most seasons played in Dodgers history

The 37-year-old Kershaw has a career 212-94 record and a lifetime 2.50 ERA. He's started 429 career games and helped the Dodgers win the World Series in both 2020 and 2024. He's just 32 strikeouts shy of the 3,000 mark. He also owns a National League Most Valuable Player trophy won in 2014, three NL Cy Young Awards and a Gold Glove. He is a 10-time All-Star and a five-time ERA champion.

The Dodgers have dealt with attrition in the pitching staff again this season, losing Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow and Roki Sasaki to the injured list, in addition to not having Kershaw or Shohei Ohtani yet.

Kershaw has thrown 21.0 innings over the course of his minor league rehab, going 1-0 with a 2.57 ERA. He's struck out 16 batters in that time. He made one start for the Dodgers' Rookie League affiliate, one start for Double-A Tulsa and three for Triple-A Oklahoma City.

The Dodgers enter play on Wednesday at 27-15 and in first place in the National League West.

Related MLB Stories

OHTANI ON THE MOUND? The latest update is out as to when we'll see Shohei Ohtani back on a major-league mound. CLICK HERE:

UNACCEPTABLE: What happened to Lance McCullers this weekend has become far too common in the big leagues, and it needs to end. CLICK HERE:

NOBODY LOOKS GOOD: In the battle between the Red Sox and Rafael Devers over first base, there are no winners. CLICK HERE:


Published
Brady Farkas
BRADY FARKAS

Brady Farkas is a baseball writer for Fastball on Sports Illustrated/FanNation and the host of 'The Payoff Pitch' podcast which can be found on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Videos on baseball also posted to YouTube. Brady has spent nearly a decade in sports talk radio and is a graduate of Oswego State University. You can follow him on Twitter @WDEVRadioBrady.