Clayton Kershaw made his highly anticipated 2025 season debut for the Los Angeles Dodgers, but the outing raised questions about the veteran ace’s current form after months of recovery from toe and knee surgeries Pitching against the Los Angeles Angels, Kershaw allowed five runs over four innings, with three walks and just two strikeouts, as the Dodgers fell 11-9.
Kershaw, now in his 18th season and just 32 strikeouts shy of the,000 milestone, showed flashes of his signature slider—striking out Zach Neto to open the game—but struggled with pitch location and command as his pitch count quickly escalated His fastball averaged 89.2 mph, consistent with recent years, but hard-hit balls and missed spots led to an early deficit for Los Angeles.
Despite the rough start, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts praised Kershaw’s improved velocity and effective curveball, noting that the left-hander’s return is a morale boost for a rotation still plagued by injuries Kershaw himself expressed gratitude for another chance to compete, emphasizing his commitment to contribute meaningfully as the Dodgers defend their World Series title.
With the Dodgers’ rotation depth tested and Kershaw’s future workload uncertain, all eyes will be on the 37-year-old as he works to regain his form and chase history in the months ahead.
