{"id":522589,"date":"2026-01-16T00:44:14","date_gmt":"2026-01-16T00:44:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/522589\/"},"modified":"2026-01-16T00:44:14","modified_gmt":"2026-01-16T00:44:14","slug":"clayton-kershaws-role-revealed-for-team-usa-in-2026-world-baseball-classic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/522589\/","title":{"rendered":"Clayton Kershaw’s Role Revealed for Team USA in 2026 World Baseball Classic"},"content":{"rendered":"

Former Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw made a shocking move Thursday, deciding to participate for Team USA in the 2026 World Baseball Classic, and revealed the role he expects to take on during the tournament.<\/p>\n

Kershaw retired from MLB at the end of the 2025 season, but announced he would join Team USA\u2019s pitching staff in March. In the tournament, Kershaw expects to be used out of the bullpen \u2014 just as he was in the postseason.<\/p>\n

\u201cKershaw figures to be part of the bullpen, as he was during the Dodgers\u2019 World Series run this past October,\u201d The Athletic\u2019s Andy McCullough wrote<\/a>.<\/p>\n

More news: Dodgers Legend Clayton Kershaw to Represent Team USA in World Baseball Classic<\/a><\/p>\n

The left-hander very rarely came out of the bullpen for the Dodgers throughout his career, with just four of his 455 regular season appearances coming in relief. He made one such appearance for the Dodgers in 2025, pitching a scoreless inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks towards the end of the regular season.<\/p>\n

He went on to make two more relief appearances for the Dodgers in the postseason, allowing four earned runs through 2.1 innings pitched.<\/p>\n

Despite his shaky relief numbers in 2025, Kershaw had a solid season altogether in Dodger blue. He finished the regular season with a 3.36 ERA through 23 appearances, striking out 84 batters in 112.2 innings pitched. He surpassed the 3,000 strikeouts mark and managed a few fantastic starts for LA throughout the season.<\/p>\n

More news: Dodgers\u2019 Shohei Ohtani Earned Most Endorsement Money Out of Any Athlete in 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

Kershaw also commented on potentially facing former teammate and reigning MVP Shohei Ohtani, which he hasn\u2019t had to do since the two-way star came to LA.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am not going to pitch to Shohei in any meaningful game,\u201d Kershaw said. \u201cI\u2019ll tell you that right now. He would hit it so far off me right now.\u201d<\/p>\n

More news: New Padres Manager Has 4-Word Message For Dodgers<\/a><\/p>\n

Clayton Kershaw\u2019s Dominance Over Shohei Ohtani Stands Out<\/p>\n

Kershaw has fared well against Ohtani in his career thus far, though, as he has never allowed a hit to the superstar. Ohtani is 0-for-11 against him during his MLB career. While he doesn\u2019t want to square off against his former teammate, Team USA will hope he can make a difference elsewhere and continue to dominate the baseball world as they pursue the second WBC title in their history.<\/p>\n

Photo Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

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