Dodgers' Clayton Kershaw to Make 2025 Debut vs. Angels on Saturday After Injury Rehab

Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told reporters on Tuesday that starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw would make his 2025 debut on Saturday against the Los Angeles Angels.

The veteran pitcher has been recovering from offseason surgeries on both his left knee and left toe.

Kershaw, 37, made his fifth rehab start on Sunday, giving up two runs, two hits and two walks while striking out two across four innings (57 pitches). He is eligible to be taken off of the 60-day injured list this coming weekend, setting up Saturday's start.

The future Hall of Famer made just seven starts for the team last season, finishing 2-2 with a 4.50 ERA and 1.50 WHIP. He did not make any postseason appearances in the team's run to a World Series title after his toe injury ended his season in August.

"I hope this is the last time I have to rehab. I'm kind of done with that," Kershaw told reporters during spring training. "But at the same time, I don't want that to be the reason that I stop playing. ... Hopefully I can walk out on my own terms, whenever that is, but it just didn't feel like it was the right time."

His return to the rotation comes at a good time for a Dodgers team that is again dealing with injuries to its pitching staff, with both Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow on the 15-day injured list and Shohei Ohtani's timeline to return to the mound still unclear.

Despite those absences, the Dodgers are an MLB-best 27-14, with players like Ohtani and Freddie Freeman looking like early MVP candidates at the plate and Yoshinobu Yamamoto pitching at a Cy Young Award level.