Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw (22) throws a first inning pitch against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on Sept. 7, 2025.

The end is officially near for Clayton Kershaw.

Kershaw and the Los Angeles Dodgers announced Thursday, Sept. 18 that he plans to retire after the end of the 2025 season. Considered by many MLB observers to be the best left-handed pitcher of his generation and a certainty to be voted into the Baseball Hall of Fame when eligible, Kershaw played 18 seasons for the Dodgers and won three Cy Young awards and two World Series championships.

Kershaw, 37, will finish his MLB career with the lowest earned run average of any starting pitcher since 1920 and his career winning percentage is better than any pitcher with at least 200 wins since 1900. In July, Kershaw became just the 20th player in MLB history to record 3,000 career strikeouts.

The Dodgers said Kershaw is slated to make his final regular-season start at Dodger Stadium on Friday, September 19 against the San Francisco Giants. The defending World Series champions lead the National League West division standings and remain on pace to qualify for the MLB playoffs once again.

Kershaw, after struggling through an injury-laden 2024 season, has bounced back with a 10-2 record and 3.53 ERA over 20 starts in his final year on the mound. Here's a look at more of Kershaw's notable career stats as he approaches retirement:

Clayton Kershaw stats

  • 222-96 career record in 2844 ⅔ innings
  • 2014 National League MVP
  • 2011, 2013 and 2014 NL Cy Young winner
  • 11-time All-Star
  • 3,039 strikeouts
  • 2.54 career ERA
  • 449 games started
  • 25 career complete games
  • 15 shutouts
  • 13-13 career record, 4.49 ERA in playoffs

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Clayton Kershaw retirement: Career stats ahead of final Dodgers start

Reporting by Mark Giannotto, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect