In the time since the Los Angeles Dodgers placed Clayton Kershaw on the 15-day injured list due to low back pain, manager Dave Roberts has expressed confidence the left-hander would make a relatively quick recovery.
When Kershaw was put on the IL earlier this season, he missed one month because of right SI joint inflammation. The 34-year-old underwent an X-ray and MRI, the latter of which Roberts said did not uncover any “new findings.”
“Nothing different from the last, I would assume, couple MRIs,” Roberts added.
Kershaw threw a baseball a handful of times at light intensity on Wednesday and continued with the throwing program at Kauffman Stadium as he works toward getting back off the mound, per Steven Henson of the L.A. Times:
Clayton Kershaw was nearly giddy with delight after throwing several hours ahead of Friday’s game. His back didn’t hurt and he said he expects to continue to throw every day and pitch from a bullpen mound within a week.
Kershaw received an epidural on Aug. 5 and it’s provided relief that’s allowed him to recover well thus far:
“I really didn’t know what to expect, and after getting the epidural it’s been feeling better the past three to five days,” Kershaw said. “It’s bouncing back pretty well.”
When Kershaw was administered an epidural to treat the back pain caused by SI joint inflammation, it didn’t immediately alleviate the pain. That in turn delayed Kershaw’s progression and recovery.
Prior to the Dodgers concluding their homestand, Roberts already was encouraged by what he was seeing. “For me, obviously watching him move around is a good thing,” Roberts said this past Wednesday.
“But also his demeanor, when he gets a little bit more jovial, I know he’s getting close. I don’t know a timeline and I don’t think he does, but I do know that just kind of him moving around, he’ll start picking up the ball and playing catch soon. Like I said earlier, I expect it to be shorter term.”
Kershaw’s back injury history
Kershaw back injuries of varying degrees and specifics have forced him to the IL during the 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2020 and 2022 seasons.
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