Clayton Kershaw paused halfway up the dugout steps Saturday and bowed his head. The jog he was about to make to the mound at Dodger Stadium would be the first steps of what is likely the final chapter of his spectacular career.

The Dodgers tied it in the bottom half before the Angels scored once in the third inning on a home run from Taylor Ward and again in the fourth on a sacrifice fly by Zach Neto. Kershaw exited after four innings trailing 5-4.

One of the greatest left-handed pitchers in Major League Baseball history made his long-awaited return to the mound on Saturday. Despite being without Clayton Kershaw for the first 45 games of the 2025 season, the Los Angeles Dodgers entered the day atop the National League West with a 29–16 record.