Clayton Kershaw to Make Postseason Broadcasting Debut for Padres-Cubs Series on NBC
The former Dodgers pitcher will serve as an "Inside the Pitch" analyst for the Wild Card matchup.
Newly retired Dodgers legend Clayton Kershaw is set to make his postseason broadcasting debut with NBC, covering the National League Wild Card series between the San Diego Padres and the Chicago Cubs. The series begins Tuesday at Petco Park.
Kershaw, a future Hall of Famer, will join the NBC broadcast team as an "Inside the Pitch" analyst. He will work alongside play-by-play announcer Dave Flemming and game analysts Jim Deshaies and Mark Grant. Sideline reporting will be handled by John Fanta. This assignment marks a significant step in Kershaw's transition to broadcasting following his decorated 18-year career on the mound.
Throughout his first year of retirement, Kershaw has gained broadcasting experience with NBC, including sideline work for "Sunday Night Baseball" and a guest appearance as the primary color analyst for a SportsNet LA Dodgers game. This will be his most prominent role to date.
The Padres-Cubs series places Kershaw in a postseason environment where he has a significant history as a player. During his tenure with the Dodgers, Kershaw was a key figure in the intense rivalry between the Padres and Dodgers, participating in multiple memorable playoff series. Notably, the Dodgers swept the Padres in the 2020 NL Division Series on their way to a championship, were upset by the Padres in the 2022 NLDS, and then secured a victory in the 2024 NLDS. Kershaw missed the latter series due to injury.
In the current postseason structure, the second-seeded Dodgers have a bye in the Wild Card round and are on the opposite side of the bracket from the fourth-seeded Padres. The Padres are looking to advance past the Cubs, who eliminated them in the Wild Card round last year. The Dodgers are preparing to face either the Atlanta Braves or the Philadelphia Phillies in the NLDS.
Kershaw, 38, has been balancing his broadcasting duties with a role as a special assistant to the Dodgers' front office. He has expressed uncertainty about whether broadcasting will be a full-time pursuit in his retirement, but this three-day assignment will allow him to remain closely involved with October baseball.