Dodgers Legend Kershaw Struggles in Playoff Relief Appearance

On October 9th, 2025, Dodgers legend Clayton Kershaw took the mound in relief for the Dodgers in Game 3 of the NLDS against the Philadelphia Phillies. Kershaw, who had earlier announced his plans to retire at the end of the 2025 season, was looking to help the Dodgers secure a crucial playoff win.

However, Kershaw's outing did not go as planned. In his first inning of work, he allowed two baserunners but managed to escape unscathed. But in the second inning, the wheels came off for the veteran lefty. Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto led off the frame with a solo home run, extending Philadelphia's lead to 3 runs. Kershaw then walked Max Kepler, and a Max Muncy error put two runners on with no outs. Trea Turner followed with a 2-run single, and Kyle Schwarber capped the 5-run inning with his second home run of the game off Kershaw.

Kershaw's final line was 2 innings pitched, 5 runs allowed on 6 hits and 3 walks, including the 2 home runs. This continues a troubling trend for Kershaw in the postseason, as his career playoff ERA of 4.49 is significantly higher than his 2.53 mark in the regular season.