Kershaw's Tough Outing in Game 3 Against Phillies

Clayton Kershaw's long-awaited return to the postseason took a disappointing turn as the Los Angeles Dodgers faced off against the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 3 of the National League Division Series. Tasked with pitching out of the bullpen, Kershaw allowed five runs (four earned) on six hits over just two innings, contributing to the Dodgers' 8-2 loss.

After the game, a visibly frustrated Kershaw reflected on his performance, stating, "Just didn't make enough good pitches. I was battling command. It's hard when you're trying to throw strikes as opposed to getting people out. Just wasn't a fun thing." His struggles came particularly in the eighth inning, which was described by Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts as "hard to watch." Betts emphasized that Kershaw's legacy as a likely Hall of Famer should not be overshadowed by a couple of tough innings, noting, "He’s going to have a statue out in front of Dodger Stadium."

Entering the game in the seventh inning while trailing 3-1, Kershaw's first inning was shaky but he managed to escape without allowing a run. However, when Dodgers manager Dave Roberts opted to send him back out for a second inning, the situation quickly deteriorated. Kershaw surrendered a leadoff home run to J.T. Realmuto, followed by a string of hits leading to a decisive inning for the Phillies.

This performance marked Kershaw's second consecutive postseason outing without a strikeout and raised his postseason ERA to 6.75 from the bullpen, with nine earned runs allowed in 12 innings across eight appearances dating back to 2008. The veteran's last relief appearance in the playoffs was in Game 5 of the 2019 NLCS against the Washington Nationals.

Despite Kershaw's struggles, the Dodgers remain focused on the series. With another home game scheduled for Thursday, they will turn to Tyler Glasnow as they aim to secure their place in the National League Championship Series, with Cristopher Sánchez starting for the Phillies.