Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Thursday morning that Clayton Kershaw received an epidural shot in his back and will be placed on the 15-day disabled list. The Dodgers later announced an MRI of Kershaw’s revealed a mild disc herniation that will not require surgery.
A timeline for his recovery is expected to be provided at a later date. The stint on the disabled list will mark just the second of Kershaw’s career. A teres major strain (upper back) forced him to the DL after making one start in 2014.
The Dodgers’ immediate response to losing Kershaw was completing a five-player trade with the Atlanta Braves that sent Bud Norris to Los Angeles. Norris will start Friday at Dodger Stadium in Kershaw’s place.
At minimum, the Dodgers will need to get through 10 games without the services of their left-handed ace. Kershaw will be eligible to come off the DL after the All-Star break and miss just two previously scheduled starts, but the current lack of a definitive recovery period casts doubt on that best-case scenario.
The three-time Cy Young Award winner is 11-2 with a 1.79 ERA, 1.67 FIP and 0.73 WHIP. Kershaw leads the Majors in ERA, complete games (three), complete-game shutouts (three), innings pitched (121) and strikeouts (145), among other categories.
