Clayton Kershaw’s postseason finale unfolds as a rare arc: from frontline ace to relief option, while the Dodgers lean on a rotation of Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell, Shohei Ohtani, Tyler Glasnow and Emmet Sheehan. The embrace mirrors Greg Maddux’s quiet retirement, signaling a new era of durability, adaptability and depth in October strategy.

The Dodgers’ front office under Andrew Friedman has built a blueprint where innings and bullpen bridges matter as much as pure talent. For fantasy managers, track Kershaw’s playoff innings, the health of the core arms and how the bullpen supports a championship push.

Dodgers finalize NLDS roster: 11 pitchers (five lefties) and 15 position players. Michael Conforto is off the roster again, while Justin Wrobleski and Edgardo Henriquez were cut to clear space for Clayton Kershaw and Anthony Banda.

Kershaw returns as a bullpen option. Manager Dave Roberts has signaled he’ll be on the DS roster if possible, with Banda in reserve for a potential next round. Kershaw posted a 3.36 ERA in 23 appearances (22 starts) and even worked a scoreless inning vs Arizona late in the season.

These moves emphasize a bullpen-focused plan against Philadelphia, leveraging left-handed depth and veteran juice. For fantasy and betting, monitor Kershaw’s leverage opportunities and Banda’s long-relief role as the series unfolds.

Toronto Blue Jays omit Max Scherzer, Bo Bichette and Chris Bassitt from their ALDS roster as they face the Yankees, citing Scherzer’s 9.00 ERA over six recent starts and Bichette’s left-knee sprain. Bieber and Gausman anchor Toronto’s rotation with Trey Yesavage in reserve, while four left-handers bolster a depth-heavy staff. New York adds Luis Gil to start the opener, trimming Mark Leiter Jr. Dodgers bring Clayton Kershaw in relief for a likely farewell, Phillies keep Kemp and Wilson but drop Romano and Trivino, Cubs add Ben Brown, and Brewers promote Misiorowski and Gasser while Rhys Hoskins sits out.

With Bichette out, Toronto’s lineup turns to bench and depth options for sustained run production; Scherzer’s absence is a sharp reminder that even veteran names aren’t immune to late-season fade. Dodgers’ setup role for Kershaw will shape NLDS strategy, while Brewers’ rookie pair injects upside into a rotation-heavy playoff path. The rosters highlight the strategic pivots teams make in October to optimize short-series odds.

Dodgers bring Clayton Kershaw back to their NLDS roster against the Phillies, adding a veteran lefty to the bullpen for a potential final postseason run. The move follows a wildcard round where the Dodgers leaned on younger arms and needed more stability from the relief corps. Kershaw, 11-2 with a 3.36 ERA this season, is expected to pitch out of the bullpen in this series, pairing with Anthony Banda to counter Philadelphia’s left-handed hitters.

Key supporting pieces remain in flux: Will Smith might catch despite a fractured hand, while Edgardo Henriquez and Justin Wrobleski were swapped out of the roster. The Dodgers face a Phillies lineup featuring Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber, Brandon Marsh, and Bryson Stott, all lefty threats. Dodgers fans will be watching whether Kershaw’s postseason pedigree translates into a pivotal series win or if this could be his farewell march.

Beyond Kershaw, the Dodgers lean on depth and experience, hoping the veteran presence steadies a pitching staff that struggled at times in the wild-card round. The Phillies’ mix of power and contact hitters will test a rotation that needs to fire on all cylinders to advance.