Mets collapse opens door for surprise NL Wild Card race down the stretch
USA TODAY Sports’ Bob Nightengale breaks down the top storylines to watch in the NL as the MLB season winds down.
Sports Pulse
One of baseball’s biggest rivalries takes center stage with future Hall of Famer Clayton Kershaw set to make his final regular-season start at Dodger Stadium on Friday against the San Francisco Giants, in a game crucial for both teams’ playoff hopes.
Kershaw, the three-time Cy Young winner, announced Thursday that he would be retiring at the end of the 2025 season, giving fans precious little time to scramble and buy tickets for the contest at Chavez Ravine. One of the greatest pitchers – lefty or otherwise – in Major League Baseball history, Kershaw has a 222-96 career record in 2844 ⅔ innings across 18 seasons.
The Dodgers hold a 2.5-game lead over the San Diego Padres in the NL West entering Friday, while the Giants trail are three games out of the NL’s final wild-card spot. All-Star lefty Robbie Ray (11-7, 3.50 ERA) takes the mound for San Francisco.
Innings pitched: 4.1Hits allowed: 4Runs: 2Earned Runs: 2Walks: 4Strikeouts: 6Home Runs: 1Pitch Count: 91Strikes: 56ERA: 3.55
Clayton Kershaw struck out Rafael Devers in the top of the fifth inning before exiting the game. Kershaw received a standing ovation from Magic Johnson and the rest of the crowd at Dodger Stadium.
Kershaw thanked the crowd while holding his hat in the air. He would hug everyone in the dugout before coming back out for a curtain call.
The Dodgers’ offense came alive in the bottom of the fifth inning to support Kershaw’s effort.
Shohei Ohtani hit a 3-run home run to left field, providing the Dodgers with their first lead of the game. Mookie Betts hit a solo home run on the next at-bat. The Dodgers lead the Giants 5-2.
Clayton Kershaw caught Willy Adames swinging to record another strikeout and send the game to the bottom of the fourth inning.
Kershaw threw over 20 pitches in the inning. He allowed a hit to Patrick Bailey, who singled to center field.
The Giants remain in front of the Dodgers 2-1.
Roberts indicated in an interview on Apple TV during the top of the fourth inning that he’s monitoring Kershaw’s performance closely.
“I’m watching him closely,” Roberts said. “… Given the emotion of yesterday, he’s not as sharp (tonight). The pitch count (70) is higher than we would like.”
Kershaw is expected to come back out in the fifth inning. There was activity in the bullpen late in the fourth inning.
Kershaw struck out Rafael Devers before Matt Chapman hit a double to center the next at-bat.
Chapman scores after Wilmer Flores singles to center. The Giants take a 2-1 lead in the top of the third inning.
Clayton Kershaw and the Dodgers get out of the top of the second inning without allowing a run. Heliot Ramos and Willy Adames hit back-to-back pop-ups that were caught by Mookie Betts to get out of the inning.
Miguel Rojas hit a 402-foot solo home run to left-center field in the bottom of the second inning to even the score for the Dodgers at 1. Andy Pages bangs one off the wall in left centerfield for a double on the very next pitch.
Heliot Ramos hit a solo home run 431 feet over the fence in center field on Kershaw’s third pitch of the game. The Giants take an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning.
Kershaw struck out two and walked one in the inning. Seventeen of his 23 pitches were strikes.
The Dodgers pitcher became the all-time leader in strikeouts against the Giants’ franchise with 417, passing Warren Spahn (416).
Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw walked out of the dugout and onto the mound for his warm-up in the final minutes before the game started. Kershaw received a warm welcome from the crowd and gave them a wave. His teammates stayed in the dugout so the pitcher could have his moment.
Where to watch Dodgers vs. Giants on Apple TV
The Dodgers vs. Giants game Friday night will air on Apple TV+ with first pitch scheduled for 10:10 p.m. ET.
Watch Dodgers-Giants on Apple TV+
Dodgers vs. Giants oddsClayton Kershaw stats222-96 career record in 2844 ⅔ innings3,039 strikeouts2014 National League MVP2011, 2013 and 2014 NL Cy Young winnerHow many rings does Clayton Kershaw have?
Kershaw has won two World Series rings with the Los Angeles Dodgers – in 2020 and 2024.
The Dodgers beat the Tampa Bay Rays in the 2020 World Series, with Kershaw winning two games in the Fall Classic at the end of the COVID-shortened season. In 2024, the left-hander was injured and unable to pitch in the Dodgers’ postseason run that culminated with a World Series win over the New York Yankees.
Several of Kershaw’s former teammates have been spotted around Dodger Stadium before he takes the mound for his final regular-season home start. The former players included Andre Ethier, Austin Barnes, Trayce Thompson, Russell Martin and AJ Pollock.
Kershaw’s childhood friend and Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford was also in attendance for the game.