Clayton Kershaw will play in the playoffs despite shoulder injury

Clayton Kershaw will participate in the upcoming playoff games against the Arizona Diamondbacks, starting on Saturday.

"I think at times maybe in the past I had a fear of failure and didn't want to go out there and fail. I think now it's just a lot more positive.. the nerves are from an excitement to pitch in the playoffs." Hear from Clayton Kershaw ahead of tomorrow's start. #Postseason pic.twitter.com/k57bKo2I2t

— SportsNet LA (@SportsNetLA) October 6, 2023

The veteran has been on the injured list ever since August 10 and the team has been cautious about bringing him on – he has never featured in more than 5 innings.

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The extent of his shoulder injury has never been revealed, but now both he and the team seem to have shrugged it off.

“He’s a survivor, he’s a competitor,” Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “He just wills himself to great performance.”

At the age of 35 Kershaw might be approaching his last postseason outing and he is not ready to let go off the opportunity so easily.

He has never been as clinical as his regular season outing, but the Dodgers will still count on Kershaw as they have been hit with plenty of injuries.