Clayton Kershaw’s rough performance in Game 3 of the NLDS—allowing five runs (four earned) over just two innings, giving up six hits and three walks without a strikeout—stands out not just for its severity but because he was thrust into a high-pressure role he hadn’t filled all season.

In 2025, Kershaw was no longer a regular member of the Dodgers’ starting rotation; instead, he was being used as an emergency bullpen option, owing in part to injuries and the team’s bullpen depth decisions.  When manager Dave Roberts turned to him in relief, it was essentially a last-ditch move to bridge innings—something he hadn’t done much of that year.

Kershaw himself admitted he was battling command, saying, “I just didn’t make enough good pitches … It’s hard when you’re trying to throw strikes as opposed to getting people out.” The mismatch—asking a veteran starter, out of his usual role and rhythm, to close critical innings—helped explain how “disastrous” the outing ended up being.