Los Angeles Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw was understandably in a somber mood while addressing reporters after only throwing two innings Sunday. His start was cut short due to what the team described as right low back tightness.
The issue arose while Kershaw finished warming up for his second and final inning. “I felt a little something in my back that wasn’t normal,” he said. Kershaw nonetheless retired the first two batters of the inning.
He was checked on by Dodgers manager Dave Roberts and head athletic trainer Nate Lucero during Tyler Flowers’ plate appearance. Kershaw made a couple practice throws before remaining in the game. Flowers walked, but Matt Adams struck out to end the inning.
Kershaw’s injury evokes memories of last season, when he missed 10 weeks with a mild herniated disc. His injury was initially diagnosed as lower back stiffness. “I don’t want to compare,” Kershaw said of the injuries.
“There’s so many variables. I don’t even know how to compare it, honestly. I’m obviously not optimistic, because I got taken out of the game. At the same time, some of the symptoms aren’t as bad as they could be.”
Whereas Kershaw declined to go into the specifics of his condition, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts was more revealing. Roberts shared some cautious optimism over the fact that Kershaw did not have shooting pain down his legs or sensations. “That’s encouraging,” Roberts said.
Kershaw experienced such symptoms last year and they are generally a sign of a disc injury. “From what I understand, it’s more muscular,” Roberts added.
Testing on Kershaw’s back will ultimately tell the complete story, but whether a short- or long-term matter, the three-time Cy Young Award winner hardly sees any semblance of a silver lining.
“A lot of frustration,” Kershaw said. “I’ve done countless hours of back maintenance and rehab, just trying to stay healthy.”
Regardless of what testing reveals, Roberts indicated Kershaw is expected to be placed on the 10-day disabled list. That presumably will come Monday, when the team need a corresponding move in order to reinstate Hyun-Jin Ryu.
