And given his recent retirement from the MLB, Friday is likely to be his last game ever.<\/p>\n
![\"United](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Clayton-Kershaw-Pat-McAfee.jpg\")
Mar 4, 2026; Scottsdale, AZ, USA; United States pitcher Clayton Kershaw (22) throws against the Colorado Rockies in the third inning at Salt River Fields. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-Imagn ImagesHow Has Clayton Kershaw Performed in the WBC?<\/p>\n
Put bluntly, he hasn\u2019t, but that was to be expected.<\/p>\n
Kershaw\u2019s role on Team USA was\u00a0described by Jesse Rogers of ESPN<\/a>\u00a0as a \u201c\u2018break glass in case of emergency\u2019 player.\u201d<\/p>\n He was spotted warming up in Team USA\u2019s eventual loss to Team Italy on Tuesday, though he never was called to the mound.<\/p>\n He was expected to only be used in blowouts, and it seems possible that Team USA manager Mark DeRosa thought the matchup with Italy was irrelevant<\/a> to the Americans\u2019 chances of advancing to the knockout round.<\/p>\n The game was indeed important, as was the run differential, which is perhaps why Kershaw never took the field.<\/p>\n Barring an appearance on Friday, Kershaw\u2019s only time pitching for Team USA will be in an exhibition game against the Colorado Rockies.<\/p>\n It didn\u2019t go well. He\u00a0gave up a 414-foot home run<\/a>, though he did get a standing ovation from the fans.<\/p>\n Who Will Replace Clayton Kershaw on the WBC Roster?<\/p>\n Kershaw will be replaced by pitcher Joe Ryan of the Minnesota Twins, reports Bob Nightengale of USA Today<\/a>.<\/p>\n Ryan has 114 MLB starts under his belt, notching a career ERA of 3.79 and WHIP of 1.063.<\/p>\n Those numbers pale a bit in comparison to Kershaw\u2019s career ERA of 2.53 and WHIP of 1.018, but Kershaw is 37 years old to Ryan\u2019s 29.<\/p>\n While the future Hall of Famer Kershaw certainly has some lessons to share with his fellow Americans, his page prevents him from being the hurler he once was.<\/p>\n Ryan, however, brings some experience \u2014 five years in the majors \u2014\u00a0and a younger arm that is likely to be able to carry a bigger load for Team USA.<\/p>\n LA Baseball Report<\/p>\n Get the app for faster news<\/p>\n![\"App](\"https:\/\/dodgersnation.com\/path\/to\/app-icon.png\"){kind=icon}
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