How the absence of Clayton Kershaw, the Dodgers' usual starter in Game 1, underscores the changing of the guard for playoff aces

When the World Series begins Friday night at Dodger Stadium, former Dodgers star Clayton Kershaw will be there, but only as a hype man in the dugout. Kershaw has been out since August 30 with a bone spur in his left big toe. He pitched in September and tried to get back on the team for the postseason, but the toe didn't help. Kershaw was closed for 2024 on October 5.

“It became pretty mentally taxing to keep trying to pitch,” Kershaw said after being shut down. “It just kept hurting, so I had another MRI. I made it worse (by trying to pitch), so there's no point in continuing at this point. It's unfortunate. Obviously super frustrated. That's it really. “It’s not getting better,” so I can’t pitch.

Kershaw suffered a major hit (six runs, one out) in his start in NLDS Game 1 against the Diamondbacks last October and underwent shoulder surgery shortly after the Dodgers' series loss. That surgery sidelined him until July 25, when he made his debut in 2024. Kershaw had a 4.50 ERA in seven regular-season starts this year. His last start was rocky (three runs, one inning) as his toe gave out.

This is Kershaw's fourth World Series and the first time he will not start Game 1, let alone not participate in the Series. He started in the World Series opener against the Astros in 2017, the Red Sox in 2018 and the Rays in 2020. The 2017 and 2020 starts went very well. The first game of 2018 doesn't start off so much.

Now 36, Kershaw has already said he intends to play next seasonalthough the Dodgers are in the World Series now and may not be there next year. While this is the fourth time in the last eight years that the Dodgers have been to the World Series, it's hard to get to the World Series. There is no guarantee that Kershaw will ever get the opportunity to play in the Fall Classic again.

The Dodgers could certainly use another starter as well. They've already played three bullpen games this postseason (NLDS Game 1 and NLCS Games 2 and 6), with at least one more scheduled in the World Series, not because they want to, but because they have to. They don't have a No. 4 starter. Kershaw is one of seven – seven! – Dodgers starter on the injured list.

Kershaw is part of a generation of professionals who are beginning to age as the sport's elite. He will not pitch this postseason because of the toe injury. Chris Sale was unable to pitch for the Braves in the NLDS due to a back problem. Justin Verlander was completely left off the Astros' ALDS roster. Max Scherzer and Jacob deGrom's Rangers missed the postseason.

Zack Greinke threw out the ceremonial first pitch in Kansas City two weeks ago before ALDS Game 4 between the Royals and Yankees. That's as close as the previous generation of aces came to taking the mound in October of this year.

Yu Darvish was great against the Dodgers in the NLDS (three runs in 13 2/3 innings) and Gerrit Cole is slated to start Game 1 of the World Series for the Yankees. Cole debuted later than Darvish, Kershaw, Verlander and others, although he belongs to the group of “big name stars in their mid-to-late 30s.” He is the last remaining tie this postseason with the previous generation of top starters.

This postseason will be the first time since 2010 that Greinke, Kershaw, Scherzer or Verlander don't throw a pitch. A changing of the guard is underway among MLB's top pitchers. Kershaw, Scherzer and Verlander give way to Hunter Greene, Paul Skenes, Tarik Skubal and others, with Cole and Zack Wheeler serving as a bridge between eras.

Kershaw will be at the 2024 World Series, but only as a spectator and teammate. Will he get a chance to pitch in the World Series again? Who knows, right? The Dodgers are very good, they are every year, but it's not easy to get to the World Series. Kershaw's toe injury kept him out of the game this October and the Dodgers will try to beat the Yankees with a makeshift rotation and bullpen games.