Clayton Kershaw to Retire After 18 Seasons with Dodgers, Final Start Set for Friday.

The Los Angeles Dodgers announced Thursday that three-time Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw will retire at the end of this season.

The 37-year-old left-hander, who recorded his 3,000th strikeout in July, is scheduled to make his final regular-season start Friday night at Dodger Stadium against the San Francisco Giants.

An 11-time All-Star and 2014 National League MVP, Kershaw is in his 18th major league season—all with the Dodgers—tying him with Zack Wheat and Bill Russell for the longest tenure in franchise history. He helped lead the team to World Series titles in 2020 and 2024.

“On behalf of the Dodgers, I congratulate Clayton on a fabulous career and thank him for the many moments he gave to Dodger fans and baseball fans everywhere, as well as for all of his profound charitable endeavors,” said team owner and chairman Mark Walter. “His is a truly legendary career, one that we know will lead to his induction in the Baseball Hall of Fame.”

Kershaw boasts a career record of 222-96 with 15 shutouts, the most among active major league players. His 2.54 ERA is the lowest of any pitcher in the live-ball era since 1920, and his winning percentage is the highest among pitchers with at least 200 wins since 1900.

On July 2, Kershaw became the 20th player and fourth left-hander in MLB history to reach 3,000 strikeouts, currently totaling 3,039. He made his major league debut on May 25, 2008.