Los Angeles Dodgers Ace Clayton Kershaw Unsure on Retirement Status Following NLDS

Clayton Kershaw was supposed to take the mound for the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 4 of the NLDS on Thursday.

As it turns out, there won't be a Game 4.

Instead, the Arizona Diamondbacks closed out the sweep over the Dodgers by escaping Game 3 with a 4-2 win on Wednesday. Arizona will move on to the NLCS, while Los Angeles will roll right into the offseason following yet another fruitless 100-win campaign.

Kershaw, who will turn 36 before the start of the 2024 season, must now decide if he wants to run it back another year.

The three-time Cy Young winner got shelled in Game 1, only recording one out as the Diamondbacks racked up six runs, furthering the narrative that he can't perform in October. Kershaw was asked postgame about his emotions with the season coming to an end, knowing he wouldn't have a chance to rectify his series-opening dud.

"Disappointing, no matter how it ends, if you don't win the whole thing," Kershaw said. "Obviously, this one hurts a lot just cause of how it went down. So yeah, all of the emotions you mentioned – frustrated, disappointed."

As for how he plans to approach the offseason, given his age and the way things ended, he took responsibility for his performance but didn't share much in terms of what's next.

"I'm not sure," Kershaw said. "Obviously a horrible way to end it personally, but that's ultimately not important. It's just how I didn't help the team win the series, that's the most disappointing part, letting your guys down."

A reporter asked Kershaw point blank if he would continue going year-to-year with his retirement decision, as he has over the past two offseasons. Flustered, Kershaw was unable to offer a clear picture of his future.

"We'll see, I'm not sure," Kershaw said. "I don't know how to answer that right now."

"Obviously, it's just a disappointing end." Clayton Kershaw speaks on his emotions after tonight's loss. pic.twitter.com/t1DcYaufxA
— SportsNet LA (@SportsNetLA) October 12, 2023

Kershaw is slated to become a free agent this winter. In 2022 and 2023, he signed one-year deals to remain with the Dodgers.

Since making his major league debut with Los Angeles in 2008, Kershaw has been one of baseball's most feared hurlers. Kershaw is 210-92 for his career with a 2.48 ERA, a 1.004 WHIP and a 79.9 WAR.

The 10-time All-Star already has a Hall of Fame resume, but there is still more left to accomplish. He is just 56 strikeouts away from becoming the 20th member of the 3,000 strikeout club, and his lone World Series ring came in the shortened 2020 season, which did not feature any fans in the stands.

Kershaw has been hampered by injuries over the past few years, as he hasn't exceeded 132 innings since 2019. The lefty hasn't lost a step when he is on the mound, boasting a 2.67 ERA and 0.986 WHIP in that time, but his availability has been a source of frustration.

With the Dodgers eliminated, Kershaw has some extra time to decide what lies ahead.

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