The Dodgers scratched ace left-hander Clayton Kershaw from his scheduled start in Game 2 in the National League Championship Series because of back spasms.
Los Angeles faces the Atlanta Braves on Tuesday (6:05 p.m. ET) in Arlington, Texas, trailing 1-0 in the best-of-seven series.
The Dodgers said right-hander Tony Gonsolin will sub for Kershaw, a three-time National League Cy Young Award winner. Gonsolin has yet to appear in the postseason and last pitched on Sept. 26, getting the win against the Los Angeles Angels. He threw six innings, giving up four runs (all earned) on seven hits with five strikeouts and no walks.
Manager Dave Roberts told reporters that Kershaw will not start Game 3 on Wednesday night, but added “the likelihood is very good” that he will pitch in the NLCS.
In the regular season, the 26-year-old Gonsolin was 2-2 with a 2.31 ERA in nine games (eight starts).
Kershaw, 32, began the abbreviated 2020 season on the 10-day injured list with back stiffness but recuperated to post stellar numbers. In 10 starts, he went 6-2 with a 2.16 ERA. He struck out 62 batters and walked only eight in 58 1/3 innings.
In the postseason, he is 2-0 with a 1.98 ERA, surrendering three runs and nine hits over 14 innings.
Roberts said Kershaw’s back issue is not related to the early season injury and that the spasms started on Saturday during a bullpen session.
In Game 2, the Braves will counter with rookie Ian Anderson. The 22-year-old righty is 2-0 in the postseason and hasn’t given up a run in 11 2/3 innings. He has struck out 17.
