Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw was named an All-Star for the 10th time on Sunday, but he has been forced to press pause on his impressive 2023 season.
Kershaw is dealing with a shoulder injury, adding to the Dodgers' lengthy list of pitching questions. Julio Urias and Tony Gonsolin have both spent time on the injured list and haven't pitched as well as they did last season. Dustin May's return from injury is uncertain. Noah Syndergaard, also sidelined with an injury, hasn't lived up to his contract.
Kershaw had been durable as he posted a 2.55 ERA and 105 strikeouts through 16 starts. This is a reminder to the Dodgers that his health can't be taken for granted at this stage of his career.
Kershaw took a no-hitter into the sixth inning in his last start but took himself out of the game once the inning ended.
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Here are the latest updates on Kershaw's injury, including his status for the All-Star Game.
Clayton Kershaw injury update
The Dodgers on July 3 placed Kershaw on the 15-day injured list. retroactive to June 30, with soreness in his pitching shoulder. The move came one day after he was chosen as a National League All-Star.
With the All-Star Game just eight days after Kershaw landed on the IL, the decision means he won't pitch in the midsummer classic.
While disappointing for Kershaw, the Dodgers aren't expecting him to miss too much time. ESPN reports Los Angeles is targeting a return early in the second half, and manager Dave Roberts told reporters Monday that it's possible Kershaw will be ready to go as soon as he's eligible to come off the IL.
Clayton Kershaw will not be pitching in the All-Star Game. The Dodgers placed him on the injured list with what they’re calling shoulder soreness. He’s playing catch, though, and it isn’t expected to be a long IL stint. They’re targeting a return early in the second half.
— Alden González (@Alden_Gonzalez) July 3, 2023
Michael Grove, recalled from Triple-A on July 3, is taking Kershaw's place in the rotation initially.
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Even if Kershaw's injury is a short-term issue, it's one of many troubling developments for the Dodgers' rotation this season. All five starters from their Opening Day rotation have missed time, as has Gonsolin, who started the season on the IL.
Kershaw has been excellent in the 16th season of his Hall of Fame career, anchoring the rotation while Urias and Gonsolin struggle to find their footing.
With this move, all five starters in the Dodgers’ Opening Day rotation have hit the IL at some point this year.
— Fabian Ardaya (@FabianArdaya) July 3, 2023
Julio Urías (hamstring)
Dustin May (flexor strain)
Clayton Kershaw (shoulder)
Noah Syndergaard (blister)
Michael Grove (groin)
plus Ryan Pepiot (oblique)
The Dodgers' bullpen has uncharacteristically struggled as well, so it would be no surprise to see team president Andrew Friedman aggressively pursue pitchers ahead of the trade deadline.
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Clayton Kershaw injury history
Kershaw has endured numerous IL stints in recent years, but back issues have been the culprit more often than not. He landed on the IL with a back injury in 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2020 and 2022.
Kershaw spent time on the IL in 2021 with an elbow injury, missing the entire postseason, and he landed on the IL in 2022 with a hip injury.
While injuries have forced Kershaw to take his career year by year and sign one-year deals with the Dodgers in each of the last two offseasons, he has remained an all-star caliber pitcher when he's on the mound. Kershaw has a 2.56 ERA since 2016 despite making fewer than 30 starts in each of those eight seasons.
The Dodgers can only hope Kershaw's shoulder issue is just a temporary bump in the road like so many of his recent injuries have been.