Clayton Kershaw only threw 27 pitches in Friday’s start before leaving due to pain in his left big toe. Kershaw was credited with three earned runs in one inning of work, plus one batter faced in the second inning, after giving up a home run to Corbin Carroll.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told reporters (including Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times) after the game that Kershaw’s toe discomfort was caused by a bone spur that had been there for several seasons.
“Sometimes it feels fine and doesn’t impede. “Certainly today,” Roberts stated.
Given the long-standing nature of the issue, it is unclear whether Kershaw will be placed on the 15-day injured list. Kershaw and Roberts both acknowledged that some testing and examination will be required before making a decision, and the Dodgers have some extra time to monitor the situation because Kershaw is not slated to pitch until next Friday. L.A. is scheduled to call up Justin Wrobleski for a spot start on Sunday, and the team has a day off on Thursday, allowing Kershaw extra time to recuperate.
However, it would not be remarkable if the Dodgers choose to place Kershaw on the injured list, even as a precaution. Kershaw’s extensive injury history is widely publicized, and he did not make his 2024 start until July 25 owing to a lengthy recuperation from shoulder surgery in November. Over 30 innings, the southpaw has a 4.50 ERA and an 18% strikeout rate, and despite the small sample size, Kershaw’s fastball velocity has decreased to 89.9 mph.
Losing Kershaw to the IL would be yet another blow to Los Angeles’ injury-ravaged rotation. Despite dealing with many damaged arms during the season, the Dodgers have an 81-54 record. Roberts said the team is highly likely to make some roster adjustments Saturday to give fresh arms to a bullpen that had to cover eight innings on Friday, and more breathing room will come Sunday when teams’ rosters are expanded from 26 to 28 players.
However, adding only relieving depth may be insufficient for an L.A. squad that still has many doubts about its starting lineup as the postseason approaches. Given the Dodgers’ five-game lead in the NL West, it would take a significant collapse for the team to miss the playoffs, but it appears that Los Angeles might have another excellent regular season derailed by a dearth of healthy arms in October. In terms of reinforcements, Yoshinobu Yamamoto has begun a Triple-A rehab assignment and could return in a few weeks, while Tyler Glasnow’s comeback from right elbow tendinitis is unknown.
