Some of the enthusiasm that came with Clayton Kershaw returning from the 10-day disabled list was tempered as his velocity remained low through five innings of the Los Angeles Dodgers’ loss to the Philadelphia Phillies on Thursday.
It was the same issue he dealt with before landing on the DL because of left biceps tendinitis. Neither the Dodgers or Kershaw attributed his velocity dip to the injury, but it was a reasonable enough assumption.
And while it was initially presumed Kershaw as lifted at 62 pitches and five innings because his spot in the order came up with a runner on and the Dodgers trailing, or due to fatigue, he actually was beset by back tightness.
Not only was it enough to force Dodgers manager Dave Roberts to remove his ace from the game, Kershaw is scheduled to undergo an MRI and isn’t traveling with the team to Colorado.
Kershaw, who has dealt with back trouble in each of the past two seasons, compared the latest discomfort to the lower back strain he dealt with in 2017, via Glenn Rabney on MLB.com
“[The injury in] 2016 is entirely different. That was very, very severe,” he said. “If I can compare it to anything, maybe comparing it to last year, maybe feeling it but it might not be that bad.
“My back has felt unbelievable until today. The shoulder is fine. … I’m frustrated and disappointed that I can’t contribute to the team. Being on the DL is no fun. … But maybe I can avoid that, we’ll have to see what happens.”
Kershaw spent just under six weeks on the disabled list last season. He missed 10 weeks in 2016 because of a herniated disc.
If Kershaw is to land back on the DL, the Dodgers will be without four members of their starting rotation. Rich Hill is on the mend from a blister, Hyun-Jin Ryu is out with a groin strain, and Kenta Maeda was sidelined this week by a right hip strain.
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