Dodgers' Clayton Kershaw Unlikely to Start Postseason; Key Reliever Brusdar Graterol Out for 2025

The Los Angeles Dodgers are managing significant changes as the 2025 MLB postseason approaches, highlighted by Clayton Kershaw's retirement announcement and his likely shift from starting pitcher to a bullpen or opener role. Kershaw, a three-time Cy Young winner, ended his regular season with a strong record but is not expected to start in the playoffs. Meanwhile, the Dodgers face challenges with key injuries, including reliever Brusdar Graterol, who has been sidelined since last November due to labrum surgery and is unlikely to return this season despite beginning a throwing progression. Dodgers president Andrew Friedman confirmed Graterol's absence, noting the difficulty in ramping up his activity to be postseason-ready, which is a blow to a bullpen already strained by other injuries such as to Will Smith. Despite these setbacks, the Dodgers have secured a playoff spot and maintain optimism about their roster depth and postseason potential. The team is adapting to these circumstances, hoping to leverage their remaining pitching assets and lineup versatility to make a strong playoff run.