Shortly after placing Clayton Kershaw on the 15-day injured list due to low back pain, Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said the team did not yet have the results of an MRI that was taken after X-rays were inconclusive.
Following the Dodgers’ 8-1 win over the San Diego Padres, Roberts relayed what he believed to be encouraging news regarding the longtime ace. “I think there wasn’t any new findings, so that’s a positive,” Roberts said.
“Obviously, where he’s at, the symptoms, we put him on the IL, so it’s rest it and reset. This was a best-case scenario coming from the MRI. I’m sure you guys will talk to Clayton and he’ll probably have more definitive insight.
“All I know is that it was a pretty positive result and we’re all encouraged.”
When Kershaw went on the IL earlier this season because of right SI joint inflammation that caused pain in his lower back, he missed one month and was slow to begin the rehab process.
“I think the last one put him down for four to six weeks. I think we’re on the shorter end of that, but obviously the body has got to heal,” Roberts said. “There’s a little bit of trauma, which caused the uneasiness.
“Again, I’m pretty confident it’s going to be more on the shorter side.”
When speaking prior to the series opener against the Padres, Roberts expressed confidence Kershaw would have enough time to stretch back out to a full workload as a starting pitcher.
Clayton Kershaw back injury details
Although Kershaw is not far removed from a back injury, Roberts revealed his latest trouble differs from the first instance.
“As I recall, the injury before was more on the right side, and I think it’s back and hip related,” Roberts said. “This one is more on the left side, and I think it’s still back and hip related. This is just from my conversation with Clayton.”
Kershaw been placed on the IL for various back injuries during the 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2020 and 2022 seasons.
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