Three-time NL Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw exited the Los Angeles Dodgers’ 5-3 win over the San Francisco Giants on Thursday with an apparent back injury.
Kershaw (seen above in an April game) was in the midst of taking some warm-up pitches in the bottom of the fifth inning when he signaled towards the dugout that something is wrong, and seemingly indicated it related to his back.
Clayton Kershaw exited the game after some warm-up pitches in the fifth inning against the Giants.
He appears to mouth, “my back” on his way to the dugout.
🎥 @NBCSGiants pic.twitter.com/krz4NxvEQj
— The Athletic MLB (@TheAthleticMLB) August 4, 2022
Following a 5-3 victory at Oracle Park, the Dodgers announced that Kershaw left the game with low back pain.
#Dodgers say Clayton Kershaw left today's game with low back pain
— Jack Harris (@Jack_A_Harris) August 4, 2022
After the game, Kershaw told the media that it’s “hard to tell” how bad the injury is, but says he should know more tomorrow once he wakes up.
Clayton Kershaw said it’s “hard to tell” how serious this back flare up is
Thinks he’ll know more based on how he feels when he wakes up tomorrow
— Jack Harris (@Jack_A_Harris) August 4, 2022
This is not Kershaw’s first battle with the injury bug this season; he was out of action between May and June with SI joint inflammation.
Dating back to 2014, the 34-year-old has suffered a string of back-related injuries in five different seasons despite never missing the entire year.
Prior to his exit against the Giants, Kershaw has been stellar when he’s on the mound, entering Thursday with a 2.66 ERA, 84 strikeouts, and a 0.984 WHIP in 81.1 innings across 14 starts.
Although this recent injury may give Dodgers fans cause to pause, Los Angeles currently has a comfortable 12-game lead in the NL West, and even if his injury is not that serious, there would be no need to rush him back into the rotation unless they completely collapse in his absence.
The Dodgers have already dealt with significant injuries to starters Walker Buehler and Andrew Heaney this season, plus several bullpen arms. They’re also still awaiting the return of Dustin May, who’s currently on a rehab assignment in his recovery from Tommy John surgery.
Update: Friday saw Kershaw officially placed on the 15-game injured list:
Dodgers Place Clayton Kershaw On Injured List, Reinstate Chris Taylor https://t.co/nbmCiuKiVh pic.twitter.com/DGiFQpQpik
— MLB Trade Rumors (@mlbtraderumors) August 5, 2022
[Photo from Bruce Kluckhohn/USA Today Sports]
