Clayton Kershaw began his first start in eight months on a strong note. It got a bit worst after that.
The longtime Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher made his season debut on Saturday after missing nearly two months rehabbing from multiple surgeries. Taking the mound against the Los Angeles Angels, he struck out leadoff hitter Zach Neto with his trademark slider.
Then four of the next five Angels reached base, with Matthew Lugo capping off a three-run rally with an RBI double.
Kershaw finished his night with five hits, five earned runs, three walks, two strikeouts and 83 pitches (48 strikes) in four innings. Per Baseball Savant, his four-seam fastball averaged 89.2 mph, topping out at 90.9 mph.
Advertisement
During the offseason, Kershaw re-signed with the Dodgers on a one-year, $7.5 million deal after undergoing surgery on his foot and knee at the end of 2024. That 2024 season was abbreviated as well, as the southpaw missed the first half recovering from a shoulder surgery, then missed the last month of the regular season and the entire postseason with the foot issue.
Not many teams would give that kind of money to a player who just hasn’t been effective or healthy since the 2023 regular season, but that’s the level of meaning Kershaw still holds for the Dodgers. With three members of their highly anticipated rotation — Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow, Roki Sasaki — already on the IL, they are certainly hoping he can at least be a consistent starting pitcher.
Saturday wasn’t the best start on that front, but that’s probably not stopping them from giving significant time to get right.
This news was originally published on this post .
About the author
5 big questions for the Red Sox: Can they re-sign Alex Bregman? How much are they willing to spend?
Christmas is a week away, and the Boston Red Sox have yet to sign a free agent to an MLB deal. Only one other club, the Colorado Rockies (and their brand-spanking-new front office), has been similarly passive on the open market. But even though chief baseball officer Craig Breslow hasn’t handed out any contracts, he has still been quite a busy man.The Sox have conducted six trades, bringing 11 new players into the organization. Not all the transactions have been of the blockbuster variety, but Boston has boosted its pitching corps with two big NL Central swaps, acquiring hurlers Sonny Gray and Johan Oviedo.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementBut have the Red Sox actually gotten any better? Is the 2026 club positioned to win more games and journey deeper into October than the 2025 version?That’s a big question, one impossible to answer until we can […]
What if Kalen DeBoer, Alabama lose to Oklahoma in the CFP?
Along the west side of the Walk of Champions that leads to Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa stand five massive statues honoring the head coaches who have won national championships at Alabama. They have victory in common, and they have something else, too: None of them took very long to claim their titles. Wallace Wade, Gene Stallings and Nick Saban won championships in their third seasons, Bear Bryant and Frank Thomas in their fourth.Kalen DeBoer, in his second season as Alabama head coach, might just beat them all in the next few weeks … or he might be on a white-hot seat in 72 hours. Such are the peaks and valleys that await every Alabama head coach.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAfter missing the inaugural 12-team playoff a year ago, DeBoer and Alabama limped into this year’s bracket and face Oklahoma in the CFP’s first game […]
Nancy makes four changes in search for first Celtic win after Lawwell resigns LIVE!
FTFull Time AETAfter Extra Time LIVEThis is a live match. ETExtra Time HTHalf Time Dundee United vs Celtic. Scottish Premiership. 8:00pm, Wednesday 17th December 2025. CalForth Construction Arena at Tannadice Park.
Micah Parsons’ absence will impact Packers vs. Bears, beyond dramatically: ‘Our whole game plan was centered around him’
In a vacuum, perhaps Ben Johnson’s statement was believable.The Chicago Bears head coach sought this week to downplay the season-ending ACL tear to edge rusher Micah Parsons ahead of the Packers’ Saturday night visit to Chicago.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement“Just because one player goes down, that doesn’t mean that this is going to change a whole lot for them,” Johnson said Wednesday. “I know everyone wants to make it about the one particular player, but this is a very good defense, regardless of who’s on the field for them.”No one is arguing Parsons was the only talent on a Packers defense ranked eighth in scoring and sixth overall. But for 14 prior games this season, coaches and players across the league have indeed insisted that Parsons was a game-changer and a force on his own.“You’ve just got to be hyper-aware of where he is,” […]
Knicks win NBA Cup + Harden, Kawhi, Ja trade watch, old Warriors & Giannis update with Raheem Palmer & Kelly Iko
Subscribe to The Kevin O'Connor ShowKevin O'Connor breaks down the Knicks’ dominant NBA Cup final win against the Spurs and what it means for the team’s NBA title chances. He reacts to Victor Wembanyama’s tough night and the standout performances from Jalen Brunson, OG Anunoby and Dylan Harper.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementKelly Iko joins to talk Giannis Antetokounmpo’s possible trade destinations, and shares why both the Rockets and Spurs are unlikely to mortgage their future for the superstar. Then, Raheem Palmer dishes on the Clippers' openness to dealing James Harden & Kawhi Leonard and why the Rockets may be the Thunder’s top challenger for the NBA title.(0:32) Knicks win 2025 NBA Cup(14:49) What's next for Ja Morant & the Grizzlies?(21:53) Giannis trade destinations(28:30) Will Nuggets make a trade?(37:36) Clippers open to trading James Harden & Kawhi Leonard(43:20) Are Lakers & Warriors too old to […]
Trafford starts as Man City make seven changes vs Brentford LIVE!
FTFull Time AETAfter Extra Time LIVEThis is a live match. ETExtra Time HTHalf Time Manchester City vs Brentford. Carabao Cup Quarter-Final. 7:30pm, Wednesday 17th December 2025. Etihad Stadium.
Related
5 big questions for the Red Sox: Can they re-sign Alex Bregman? How much are they willing to spend?
Christmas is a week away, and the Boston Red Sox have yet to sign a free agent to an MLB deal. Only one other club, the Colorado Rockies (and their brand-spanking-new front office), has been similarly passive on the open market. But even though chief baseball officer Craig Breslow hasn’t handed out any contracts, he has still been quite a busy man.The Sox have conducted six trades, bringing 11 new players into the organization. Not all the transactions have been of the blockbuster variety, but Boston has boosted its pitching corps with two big NL Central swaps, acquiring hurlers Sonny Gray and Johan Oviedo.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementBut have the Red Sox actually gotten any better? Is the 2026 club positioned to win more games and journey deeper into October than the 2025 version?That’s a big question, one impossible to answer until we can […]
What if Kalen DeBoer, Alabama lose to Oklahoma in the CFP?
Along the west side of the Walk of Champions that leads to Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa stand five massive statues honoring the head coaches who have won national championships at Alabama. They have victory in common, and they have something else, too: None of them took very long to claim their titles. Wallace Wade, Gene Stallings and Nick Saban won championships in their third seasons, Bear Bryant and Frank Thomas in their fourth.Kalen DeBoer, in his second season as Alabama head coach, might just beat them all in the next few weeks … or he might be on a white-hot seat in 72 hours. Such are the peaks and valleys that await every Alabama head coach.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAfter missing the inaugural 12-team playoff a year ago, DeBoer and Alabama limped into this year’s bracket and face Oklahoma in the CFP’s first game […]
Nancy makes four changes in search for first Celtic win after Lawwell resigns LIVE!
FTFull Time AETAfter Extra Time LIVEThis is a live match. ETExtra Time HTHalf Time Dundee United vs Celtic. Scottish Premiership. 8:00pm, Wednesday 17th December 2025. CalForth Construction Arena at Tannadice Park.
Micah Parsons’ absence will impact Packers vs. Bears, beyond dramatically: ‘Our whole game plan was centered around him’
In a vacuum, perhaps Ben Johnson’s statement was believable.The Chicago Bears head coach sought this week to downplay the season-ending ACL tear to edge rusher Micah Parsons ahead of the Packers’ Saturday night visit to Chicago.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement“Just because one player goes down, that doesn’t mean that this is going to change a whole lot for them,” Johnson said Wednesday. “I know everyone wants to make it about the one particular player, but this is a very good defense, regardless of who’s on the field for them.”No one is arguing Parsons was the only talent on a Packers defense ranked eighth in scoring and sixth overall. But for 14 prior games this season, coaches and players across the league have indeed insisted that Parsons was a game-changer and a force on his own.“You’ve just got to be hyper-aware of where he is,” […]
Knicks win NBA Cup + Harden, Kawhi, Ja trade watch, old Warriors & Giannis update with Raheem Palmer & Kelly Iko
Subscribe to The Kevin O'Connor ShowKevin O'Connor breaks down the Knicks’ dominant NBA Cup final win against the Spurs and what it means for the team’s NBA title chances. He reacts to Victor Wembanyama’s tough night and the standout performances from Jalen Brunson, OG Anunoby and Dylan Harper.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementKelly Iko joins to talk Giannis Antetokounmpo’s possible trade destinations, and shares why both the Rockets and Spurs are unlikely to mortgage their future for the superstar. Then, Raheem Palmer dishes on the Clippers' openness to dealing James Harden & Kawhi Leonard and why the Rockets may be the Thunder’s top challenger for the NBA title.(0:32) Knicks win 2025 NBA Cup(14:49) What's next for Ja Morant & the Grizzlies?(21:53) Giannis trade destinations(28:30) Will Nuggets make a trade?(37:36) Clippers open to trading James Harden & Kawhi Leonard(43:20) Are Lakers & Warriors too old to […]
Trafford starts as Man City make seven changes vs Brentford LIVE!
FTFull Time AETAfter Extra Time LIVEThis is a live match. ETExtra Time HTHalf Time Manchester City vs Brentford. Carabao Cup Quarter-Final. 7:30pm, Wednesday 17th December 2025. Etihad Stadium.
Be the first to leave a comment