In a surprising development, Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts confirmed that left-hander Clayton Kershaw will not be on the team’s roster for the upcoming National League Wild Card series. “Kershaw won’t be on the Wild Card Round roster,” Roberts told Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times. The Dodgers, already locked into the #3 seed, will instead rely on other starting options for the short series.
Kershaw is starting the Dodgers’ regular season finale today, a decision Roberts described as routine. “Since we don’t plan on using Kershaw in the Wild Card round, we can have him absorb as many innings as possible today,” Roberts said. With an off-day before the series begins, the Dodgers can manage innings for their bullpen and ensure maximum readiness for postseason play.
New Addition and Depth Move
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To bolster the pitching staff, the Dodgers recalled right-hander Landon Knack, optioning left-hander Andrew Heaney in a corresponding move. Heaney, who has sufficient service time to refuse an option, agreed to the assignment, providing flexibility and depth for the Dodgers. Heaney could be recalled if injuries arise, offering insurance for the postseason while preserving his opportunity to pitch in October.
Kershaw’s Role and Postseason Outlook
While Kershaw has experimented with relief appearances—throwing a single inning on Wednesday—his current velocity, averaging 90.4 mph, makes him less ideal for a bullpen role. “Even with the bullpen scuffling recently, we prefer to go with our typical relievers rather than converting Kershaw to a pen role,” Roberts explained.
LA is expected to rely on Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Blake Snell for Games 1 and 2, with Tyler Glasnow available on normal rest for a potential Game 3. At 36 years old and in the final season of his storied career, Kershaw will serve as a veteran presence off the field while the team leans on younger arms to start the short series.
A Veteran Presence, Not a Starter
Though it may feel surprising to fans, the move makes strategic sense. Roberts emphasized the depth and reliability of the Dodgers’ rotation: “We have four starting pitchers we can believe in more than Kershaw at this stage of his career.” While Kershaw won’t start in the Wild Card round, Dodgers fans can hope he’ll at least take the mound in a postseason game one last time in Los Angeles blue.