Los Angeles Dodgers: Clayton Kershaw to the DL

Los Angeles Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw is going on the disabled list with a back injury, throwing a huge wrench into the team’s already injury-riddled season.

A couple of days ago, news broke about Clayton Kershaw having a sore back, which led to him being scratched from a start. Today, Los Angeles Dodgers beat writer Andy McCullough of the L.A. Times tweeted that Kershaw had an epidural for his back and would head to the disabled list:

The Dodgers still don’t have a starter set for Friday, which would have been Kershaw’s start. With the number of injuries they have faced so far this season, it is not shocking that they are unable to draw anyone from the well. They are looking at options outside of the organization.

The Dodgers have had 16 different pitchers start a game for them this season, which is certainly less than ideal. With preseason long-term injuries to Brett Anderson and Brandon McCarthy, the rotation was already hurting. Add the injuries to Hyun-jin Ryu and Alex Wood, and the Dodgers rotation has essentially been in shambles all season long.

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Clayton Kershaw was the one constant within the rotation. He was on pace to have a record-setting year and most likely another Cy Young Award. Kershaw currently has a 1.79 ERA, 0.73 WHIP, and an unheard-of 16.11 K/BB. All of those numbers are the best in Major League Baseball. Kershaw was certainly headed towards another Cy Young, and perhaps winning another NL MVP award. In a career that has included many great seasons, this was going to be his best one yet.

Now the Dodgers are left without a single pitcher in their rotation that they can rely on. The team has been able to hold on in contention through all the injuries because they had Kershaw pitching every five days. With Kershaw out for the foreseeable future, the Dodgers are in big trouble.

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Initially the report was that Kershaw would be back after the All-Star break, but Dave Roberts was hesitant to even confirm that. In all likelihood he won’t be back until late July or early August. Can the Dodgers hold on and continue to contend while he is gone? That question remains to be answered.