Clayton Kershaw won't pitch for the Dodgers in playoffs after big toe injury fails to heal

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Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw stands on the field during practice in preparation for Game 1 of a baseball NL Division Series against the San Diego Padres in Los Angeles, Friday, Oct. 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

LOS ANGELES ā€“ Clayton Kershaw, sidelined since late August with a toe injury, wonā€™t pitch again this season for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

ā€œThis is it for Clayton for 2024,ā€ manager Dave Roberts said Saturday before Game 1 of the National League Division Series between the Dodgers and San Diego Padres.

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A 36-year-old left-hander, Kershaw is a three-time Cy Young Award winner and 10-time All-Star. He didn't pitch until July 25 after having offseason shoulder surgery. He went on the injured list Aug. 31 with a bone spur in his left big toe.

ā€œClayton has done everything he can to keep this thing moving forward and giving himself a chance to participate in the postseason,ā€ Roberts said. ā€œBut where heā€™s at right now, physically, the foot, the toe just is not cooperating. Itā€™s actually getting worse.ā€

Kershaw had been left off the Dodgers' NLDS roster earlier Saturday before Roberts confirmed that his season was over.

ā€œIt's not getting better so I canā€™t pitch,ā€ he said during batting practice Saturday.

Kershaw was asked if needs surgery, which he initially said he had been told wouldn't be necessary.

ā€œItā€™s definitely in the conversation,ā€ he said, ā€œbut I havenā€™t solidified anything yet, but thereā€™s a chance I might need to fix it.ā€

Because of his toe, Kershaw couldnā€™t pitch the way he wanted to and other areas of his body were overcompensating for it.

ā€œI had to keep my arm going,ā€ he said. ā€œBy doing that, I probably made this worse but I had to try it.ā€

Kershaw was 2-2 with a 4.50 ERA in seven starts.

He had been eager to redeem himself after last yearā€™s stunning postseason debacle. Kershaw got hammered by Arizona in Game 1 of the National League Division Series, giving up six hits and six runs in the first inning.

His postseason ERA is 4.22 over 194 innings pitched. His regular-season ERA of 2.48 is the best of any MLB pitcher with at least 1,500 innings pitched since 1920.

ā€œIt stinks heā€™s not going to be able to pitch for us,ā€ catcher Will Smith said. ā€œHeā€™ll be here every day I know cheering us on, being in the clubhouse, helping us out whatever way he can.ā€

Kershaw signed a one-year contract in February plus a 2025 player option worth $5 million. He said he'll consider his future in the offseason.

ā€œI donā€™t want to keep getting hurt all the time, itā€™s not fun to do that, but I also really love to pitch, too,ā€ he said. ā€œJust got to weigh everything.ā€

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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB


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