The Los Angeles Dodgers placed Clayton Kershaw on the bereavement list and selected the contract of Tayler Scott from Triple-A Oklahoma City prior to their series opener against the Atlanta Braves on Monday.
Kershaw is taking time away from the team to attend his mother’s funeral in Texas. MLB roster rules require a player who was put on the bereavement list to be off the active roster for a minimum of three days, but no more than seven.
Marianne Tombaugh passed away on May 13 due to an undisclosed reason. Kershaw nevertheless made his scheduled start three days later and was on the mound again Sunday for the series finale against the St. Louis Cardinals.
He struggled in both outings, throwing a combined 7.2 innings and allowing six runs on 12 hits and four walks.
The stretch marked the first time Kershaw has made back-to-back starts of four innings or fewer since 2009. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts believes some of that is due to the challenge of attempting to pitch through grief.
After taking the loss on Sunday, Kershaw is 6-4 with a 2.98 ERA and 1.10 WHIP over 10 starts this season.
Whether or not Kershaw went on bereavement leave Monday, he was due to receive an extra day of rest before next taking the mound because of an off day in the Dodgers’ schedule.
The 35-year-old is expected to return in time for his start Saturday in the middle game of the Dodgers’ series against the Tampa Bay Rays.
Who is Dodgers pitcher Tayler Scott?
Meanwhile, Scott gives the Dodgers a fresh arm for a bullpen that’s shouldered a heavy load of late. He’s 1-0 with two saves, a 1.08 ERA and 1.20 WHIP in 16 games with Oklahoma City so far this season.
Scott has Major League experience with the Seattle Mariners (2019), Baltimore Orioles (2019) and San Diego Padres (2022). He went a combined 0-1 with an 11.21 ERA and 2.36 WHIP in 21 games (two starts) while up with the three teams.
Scott also was part of the Philadelphia Phillies organization last season but he was never added onto their roster.
The Dodgers signed Scott to a Minor League contract back in January. The 30-year-old and Gift Ngoepe are the only South African-born players in MLB history. Ngoepe made his MLB debut with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2017 and played in 13 games for the Toronto Blue Jays the following year.
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