According to Andy McCullough of the Los Angeles Times, Clayton Kershaw is heading to the disabled list. The Los Angeles Dodgers ace received an epidural injection on Wednesday for his ailing back. The Dodgers have yet to inform reporters what the specific diagnosis is, but they hope to have their ace back sometime after the All-Star Break.
Clayton Kershaw Back Injury Leads to DL
Kershaw, 28, was sent back to Los Angeles on Tuesday to have his back examined after there was no improvement. Before Kershaw was placed on the 15-day disabled list, he received an epidural on Wednesday in hopes that it will provide some comfort.
“We are going to use the All-Star break with the four days (to rest),” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told USA Today. “In the coming days we will see how he responds to the epidural to give us some more direction.”
The three-time Cy Young Award winner is once again showing his dominance over hitters. For the season, Kershaw has posted a record of 11-2 with an ERA of 1.72, and is no lower than second in every major pitching category. He currently leads the National League in ERA and innings pitched (121). He sits just one win behind the Chicago Cubs ace Jake Arrieta, and is three strikeouts behind the Washington Nationals top pitcher, Max Scherzer, with 145. He also has a 16.11 strikeout-to-walk ratio, which would absolutely destroy the MLB record of 11.63 set by Phil Hughes of the Minnesota Twins in 2014.
Kershaw struggled in his last start against the Pittsburgh Pirates, allowing four runs in only six innings, and for the first time this season he walked two batters while striking out four. Known for his durability, Kershaw has made at least thirty starts in six of the last seven seasons. On the year, the Dodgers are 14-2 when Kershaw takes the mound and only 29-35 when he doesn’t.
The Dodgers have yet to name a starter to replace Clayton Kershaw for Friday’s game against the Colorado Rockies.
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