Clayton Kershaw and Dodgers celebrate 12th NL West title in last 13 seasons

PHOENIX (AP) — As the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrated their 12th NL West title in 13 years, Clayton Kershaw thought about participating in a division championship for the final time.

“This is what I’m going to miss,” the left-hander said after Thursday's 8-0 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks. “Pitching is great and I love that, too, but getting to do this with a group of guys, all working for a collective goal, the camaraderie, that’s really special.

“You don’t get that anywhere else. There’s no jobs where 37-year-olds get to do that. But I’m good, I had a great run.”

An 11-time All-Star and three-time Cy Young Award winner, Kershaw said last week he will retire at the end of the postseason. He won the first of 14 division titles as a rookie in 2008.

“It was a lot of fun then and it’s a lot of fun now,” Kershaw said of the celebration.

While the Dodgers celebrated their 2013 division title by jumping into the Chase Field pool behind the right-field wall, they avoided the water this time — except when Shohei Ohtani hit a splash shot for his 54th home run.

“Winning the division title, you can never take it for granted,” said Freddie Freeman, who homered twice Thursday. “We feel like we’re really starting to click.”

Los Angeles, which reached 90 wins for its 12th straight full season, will play in a wild card series for the first time since the best-of-three round was added in 2022.

“You only play this game for so long, so you only get so many opportunities to do this,” Mookie Betts said. “I feel great. I really didn’t do anything the first half of the season, so I got plenty of rest and I’m just happy to help.”

Dave Roberts has reached the playoffs in all 10 years as Dodgers manager, nine times as a division winner. LA won the World Series last season, beating the Yankees in five games.

“This was expected. We got it done, maybe a little bit later than we hoped. But I’m happy with the way we’re playing,” Roberts said. “I do think we’re better for all the adversity and we’re playing our best baseball right now, What we’ve done before, nothing matters. It’s more about trusting each other and playing for a championship.”

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Los Angeles Dodgers first base Enrique Hernández (8) and Miquel Rojas, right, celebrate after the Dodgers clinched the National League West title against the Arizona Diamondbacks during a baseball game at Chase Field Thursday, Sept. 25, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Darryl Webb)

Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts celebrates after the Dodgers clinched the National League West title against the Arizona Diamondbacks during a baseball game at Chase Field Thursday, Sept. 25, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Darryl Webb)

Los Angeles Dodgers players and coaches after the Dodgers clinched the National League West title against the Arizona Diamondbacks during a baseball game at Chase Field Thursday, Sept. 25, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Darryl Webb)

Los Angeles Dodgers two-way player Shohei Ohtani, right, celebrates with his teammates after the Dodgers clinched the National League West title against the Arizona Diamondbacks during a baseball game at Chase Field Thursday, Sept. 25, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Darryl Webb)

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw, center, celebrates with his teammates after the Dodgers clinched the National League West title against the Arizona Diamondbacks during a baseball game at Chase Field Thursday, Sept. 25, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Darryl Webb)

TORONTO (AP) — Schools were closed in Canada's largest city of Toronto and commuters faced severe delays on Thursday as heavy snow continued to hammer much of southern Ontario, blocking streets and forcing cars into ditches.

Environment Canada said regions including the Greater Toronto Area, Kitchener and Hamilton are expected to see up to 30 centimeters (12 inches) of snow into Thursday afternoon.

Toronto, York, Peel and Halton Region schools closed Thursday morning, and institutions including the University of Toronto, Toronto Metropolitan University and York University announced their campuses were closed.

Complete school closures due to snow are rare in Toronto.

Environment Canada said the Ottawa area will see up to 25 centimeters (10 inches) of snow, tapering off Thursday evening. It added that northerly wind gusts of up to 60 kilometers (37 milies) per hour will result in blowing snow and reduced visibility, and a sharp temperature drop will cause very cold wind chills.

Provincial police advised residents to stay off the roads if possible, and officers responded to dozens of collisions and cars in ditches. Police said there were multiple road closures across southern Ontario, including ramps at the Highway 403 near the Burlington and Hamilton border and parts of Highway 401 in eastern Ontario.

Both Ontario Premier Doug Ford and Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow cancelled public events Thursday due to the inclement weather.

At Toronto’s Pearson airport, officials said air traffic management procedures were in place and impacting some arriving and departing flights.

Travellers were advised to check their flight status before heading to the airport, where snow clearing operations were underway.

Pedestrians cross Bay Street along Front Street amid heavy snowfall and accumulation as snow and heavy winds continue to hammer the Greater Toronto Area, in Toronto, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (Giordano Ciampini /The Canadian Press via AP)

Pedestrians, obscured by snow thrown by workers cleaning a work site overhead, cross Adelaide Street along Yonge Street amid heavy snowfall and accumulation as snow and heavy winds continue to hammer the Greater Toronto Area, in Toronto, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (Giordano Ciampini /The Canadian Press via AP)

Pedestrians cross Adelaide Street along Yonge Street amid heavy snowfall and accumulation as snow and heavy winds continue to hammer the Greater Toronto Area, in Toronto, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (Giordano Ciampini /The Canadian Press via AP)

A cargo cyclist rides along Adelaide Street East amid heavy snowfall and accumulation as snow and heavy winds continue to hammer the Greater Toronto Area, in Toronto, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (Giordano Ciampini /The Canadian Press via AP)

Commuters make their way to their destinations on King Street East amid heavy snowfall and accumulation as snow and heavy winds continue to hammer the Greater Toronto Area, in Toronto, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (Giordano Ciampini /The Canadian Press via AP)