Dodgers Provide Update On Clayton Kershaw

When Clayton Kershaw took himself out of Thursday's game before the 5th inning, pointing at his hip/lower back area, today's news seemed inevitable. The 3-time Cy Young Award winner has been placed on the 15-day injured list with lower back pain. 

"I just felt something kind of lock up there in the fifth," Kershaw said, according to MLB.com's Juan Toribio. "Couldn't really throw after that." 

Dave Roberts said Clayton Kershaw is getting an MRI today, results pending. Kershaw felt some soreness this morning.

— Fabian Ardaya (@FabianArdaya) August 5, 2022

Manager Dave Roberts said that the 34-year-old ace was getting an MRI on Friday. More will be known after the results come in.

This is the second time this season that pain in Kershaw's lower back has cost him time. He missed over a month in May/June with SI Joint inflammation. In fact, Kershaw has had to be placed on the IL for back problems in five of the last seven seasons. 

The future Hall of Famer considered retirement during the offseason due to wear and tear on his body after 14 seasons, but finally decided to sign a one-year, $17M contract to return for 2022. And the results have been spectacular, when he's been on the mound. 

A 2.64 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, and an 88:15 strikeout to walk ratio earned him his 9th All-Star selection. 

Hopefully this will be a minimal stay on the IL for the Dodger legend.

Replacing him on the roster, the team has activated utilityman Chris Taylor from the IL. 

Photo: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports