The Los Angeles Dodgers will start three-time Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw in Game 2 of the National League Division Series (NLDS) against the Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday, October 4, 2023. Dodgers manager Dave roberts announced the decision on Tuesday, October 3, 2023, according to reporting from ESPN.

This postseason appearance is especially significant as Kershaw has indicated he intends to retire after the playoffs, making this perhaps his final run. he has been a cornerstone of the Dodgers franchise for 15 seasons.

Kershaw’s 2023 Regular season Performance

Kershaw appeared in 23 games during the 2023 regular season, posting an 11-2 record with a 3.36 earned run average (ERA) over 112.2 innings pitched. He recorded 84 strikeouts and allowed 1.22 baserunners per inning, according to Baseball-Reference.

NLDS Matchup and Series format

The Dodgers and Phillies are competing in a best-of-five series, meaning the first team to win three games advances to the National League Championship Series (NLCS). The Phillies won Game 1 of the series on Tuesday, October 3, 2023, with a score of 8-1, as reported by MLB.com.

Game 2 is scheduled for Wednesday, October 4, 2023, at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. The series will then move to Philadelphia for Games 3 and 4, if necessary, before returning to Los Angeles for a potential Game 5.

Kershaw’s Career Highlights

Clayton Kershaw has been a dominant force in Major League Baseball since being drafted by the Dodgers in 2006. His accolades include:

• 3x Cy Young Award Winner: 2011, 2014, 2017
• MLB MVP: 2014
• 9x All-Star Selection: 2011-2018
• World Series Champion: 2020

Despite his individual success, a World Series title eluded Kershaw for many years until the Dodgers’ victory in 2020. He has consistently been regarded as one of the best pitchers of his generation.