Exactly six months after the Dodgers hosted the Detroit Tigers for their home opener, the Dodgers played their final game of the 2025 regular season, one that featured Clayton Kershaw’s final regular season start.
Kershaw struggled to go five full innings in his final start at Dodger Stadium, but bounced back against the Seattle Mariners over 5 1/3 scoreless innings, allowing just four hits and a walk while striking out seven hitters. It was a bittersweet moment for both Dodgers fans and Kershaw alike, but with the regular season now in the books, the focus turns to Tuesday and the team preparing to take on the Cincinnati Reds for their first postseason matchup in 30 years, notes Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times.
“I’m so grateful for it all,” Kershaw said of the receptions he has gotten since announcing his retirement two weeks ago. “Dodger Stadium last week was pretty amazing. To be able to walk off that mound to that ovation is something I’ll never forget. And today was really special, too. So I couldn’t ask for anything more. It’s been an amazing 10 days, two weeks. Now,” he added, ahead of what will be his final postseason, “we can all turn our focus to beating the Reds.”
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Shohei Ohtani set the Dodgers record for most home runs in a single season last year where he had a historic 6-6 outing while founding the 50-50 club. In Sunday’s regular season finale, Ohtani outdid himself, smashing his 55th home run of the season against lefty Gabe Speier to once again set the Dodgers single season record for home runs.
Ohtani has certainly reestablished himself as a dominant force on both sides of the field, and the Dodgers will look to keep Ohtani’s hot streak alive into the postseason, per Sonja Chen of MLB.com.
“He’s in, and has been in, postseason mode,” manager Dave Roberts said. “His September’s been fantastic. At-bat quality, you can see it on the mound, he’s got a different look right now. Just not surprised that he eclipsed his own mark. He’s had a tremendous season, and we’ve got a long way to go now.”
Roki Sasaki’s season looked to be lost after suffering a right shoulder impingement in May. Four months later and Sasaki not only returned to the Dodgers out of the bullpen, but has shown flashes of his otherworldly potential on the mound with his devilish splitter and blistering fastball that can hit triple digits.
Sasaki’s role for the postseason had yet to be officially announced over the weekend, but Miguel Rojas ensured that the rookie right-hander is not afraid of any moment presented to him, per Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register.
“It’s really refreshing to see Roki going out there and having the attitude,” Rojas said. “I feel like more than than the 100 mph fastball and the split, and the movement on the ball and attacking the zone and throwing strikes, I think it’s the attitude. You can see him – not afraid of the moment and the situation. He wants to be there. It’s refreshing.”
