Jul 23, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw (22) talks to manager Dave Roberts (center) and trainer Nate Lucero after injuring himself in the second inning against the Atlanta Braves at Dodger Stadium. After throwing a few warmup pitches Kershaw stayed in the game but was pulled in the next inning. Photo Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports
The Los Angeles Dodgers are expecting ace left-hander Clayton Kershaw to be sidelined at least a month after leaving Sunday’s game due to back pain.
The initial prognosis by the team on Monday, first reported by Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports and confirmed by the Los Angeles Times, is that Kershaw will miss four to six weeks.
A final determination of Kershaw’s condition and timetable for his absence will be made following an examination by specialist Dr. Robert Watkins.
Kershaw was on his way to a runaway Cy Young season when he encountered tightness in his back Sunday.
Kershaw was 15-2 with a 2.07 ERA before Sunday’s game and even had a case for Most Valuable Player for the National League West-leading Dodgers. He threw 21 pitches and struck out two and walked one before manager Dave Roberts visited the mound.
“Obviously, I’m not optimistic because I got taken out of the game,” said Kershaw, who spent more than two months on the disabled list in 2016 with a back injury. “At the same time, some of the symptoms aren’t as bad as they could be.”
Watkins diagnosed the herniated disk in Kershaw’s back in June 2016, an injury that sidelined him for 10 weeks. Kershaw received a painkilling epidural as part of his treatment.
Los Angeles manager Dave Roberts said Sunday’s issue with Kershaw’s back was not the same as a year ago, describing it as more “muscular” and mentioning that there was no shooting pain down the star lefty’s legs this time.
“I don’t want to compare, just because there’s so many variables,” Kershaw told the Los Angeles Times after Sunday’s game. “I don’t even know how to compare it, honestly.”
The Dodgers, who lead the NL West by 10 1/2 games entering Monday, are expected to place Kershaw on the 10-day disabled list Monday.
Roberts would not comment on the team’s interest in other starting pitchers. The Dodgers have been rumored to be interested in Texas Rangers right-hander Yu Darvish and have one week before the trade deadline.
