TODAY: Kershaw’s MRI didn’t reveal any critical harm, Dodgers supervisor Dave Roberts instructed The Athletic’s Fabian Ardaya (Twitter links) and different reporters. As Roberts put it, that is the “best-case state of affairs” for Kershaw’s harm, although the southpaw additionally obtained an epidural injection in his again. A timetable nonetheless isn’t recognized for Kershaw’s return.
AUGUST 5: The Dodgers introduced they’ve positioned Clayton Kershaw on the 15-day injured listing, citing low again ache. Utilityman Chris Taylor is again from his personal IL stint to take the vacated energetic roster spot. Los Angeles additionally recalled reliever Reyes Moronta from Triple-A Oklahoma Metropolis and optioned outfielder James Outman.
Kershaw lands on the IL for the second time this season. He misplaced round a month between early Might and June with irritation in his proper hip space. The longer term Corridor of Famer returned and went on to make ten extra begins earlier than yesterday’s outing. After throwing 4 innings of two-run ball in an eventual win over the Giants, Kershaw went out to the mound for his warm-up tosses to start out the fifth. He pulled himself from the sport after experiencing some ache in his decrease again, and that difficulty will apparently preserve him out of motion for a minimum of the following few weeks.
The staff hasn’t offered a timetable on Kershaw’s return, and the introduced analysis of “low again ache” stays nebulous. They’ll certainly be cautious with the 34-year-old, significantly since he’s landed on the injured listing a minimum of as soon as in every season since 2016. That included stints for again points yearly between 2016-18. With a 12 1/2 recreation lead over the Padres within the NL West, the Dodgers can really feel snug enjoying issues slowly with key gamers for the ultimate couple months.
Whereas Kershaw not takes on the sort of workloads he did throughout his prime, he’s nonetheless among the many sport’s greatest pitchers on a fee foundation. By means of 85 1/3 innings this season, the three-time Cy Younger winner carries a 2.64 ERA with an above-average 26.2% strikeout fee and 48.5% ground-ball share. Kershaw’s fastball is sitting within the 90 MPH vary, however he owns arguably the sport’s greatest command and hasn’t walked greater than 6% of batters confronted in a season for a decade.
Kershaw’s journey to the IL leaves Julio Urías, Tony Gonsolin, Tyler Anderson and Andrew Heaney because the rotation’s high 4 in the intervening time. Ryan Pepiot and Michael Grove are depth choices at Triple-A, and the membership appears more likely to welcome hard-throwing righty Dustin May again within the not too distant future. Supervisor Dave Roberts instructed MLB Community Radio on SiriusXM this afternoon that Might is more likely to return by the membership’s August 19-21 sequence towards the Marlins (Twitter link). The 24-year-old has been out all season recovering from Might 2021 Tommy John surgical procedure, however he’s been on a rehab stint since mid-July. Roberts indicated he’s more likely to make two extra begins in Oklahoma Metropolis earlier than returning to the large league membership, though he left open the chance Might rejoins the MLB staff after only one extra Triple-A look.
Taylor makes his return to the beginning lineup, precisely a month after fracturing his left foot. It’s a fast bounceback for an harm of that magnitude, and Roberts urged he’ll get the nod at second base tonight. It’ll be Taylor’s first infield look of the season, as he’s labored solely on the grass this yr. Taylor has logged 502 innings in left area, together with 57 and 56 frames in middle and proper, respectively.
In fact, Taylor made a reputation for himself together with his defensive flexibility in earlier seasons. He’s able to enjoying nearly in all places on the diamond aside from catcher, and it appears the membership is content material to get him again onto the infield every so often. Gavin Lux and Trea Turner make for a wonderful center infield duo, with Max Muncy enjoying primarily third base as Justin Turner landed on the IL on Tuesday. Taylor will presumably spend the majority of his time within the outfield nonetheless, however the capability to log some motion on the dust will permit Roberts extra flexibility in managing infield reps. The 31-year-old will attempt to get going offensively after his month away, as he carries a .238/.319/.409 line with an enormous 35.4% strikeout fee throughout 285 plate appearances on the yr.
