While the Los Angeles Dodgers are counting on Tyler Glasnow and Yoshinobu Yamamoto to return in September, they’ve absorbed another injury with Clayton Kershaw being removed from his start against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday.
The Dodgers announced Kershaw exited early because of left big toe pain.
Kershaw was taken out of the game after giving up a solo home run to Corbin Carroll to lead off the bottom of the second inning. His final pitch was a 67.4 mph curveball, and the one prior to that was an 87.2 mph fastball.
Kershaw appeared to gingerly walk off the mound as Carroll’s home run sailed into the stands, and Dodgers manager Dave Roberts and head athletic trainer Thomas Albert quickly went out to the mound.
There wasn’t any conversation with Kershaw, or objection from him, as Roberts informed the home-plate umpire of an injury and took the ball from the left-hander.
Kershaw endured a rough first inning as four of the first five batters faced reached safely. He gave up two runs and was aided by Teoscar Hernández making a sliding catch that turned into an inning-ending double play because Josh Bell didn’t tag up from second base.
Kershaw entered the night 2-2 with a 3.72 ERA and 1.41 WHIP in six starts this season. He fared well in four prior starts during August, going 2-1 with a 2.95 ERA while facing the Philadelphia Phillies, Milwaukee Brewers, St. Louis Cardinals and Tampa Bay Rays.
Chase Field is the only ballpark he has a losing record in at 8-11 with a 3.91 ERA in 22 career starts.
Impact of Clayton Kershaw’s injury
If Kershaw is to miss time moving forward, the Dodgers likely will need to recall Landon Knack from Triple-A Oklahoma City.
They already were planning to insert a spot starter Sunday, who is presumed to be Justin Wrobleski as that lines up with his next turn in the rotation.
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