Dodgers left-handed pitcher Clayton Kershaw has encountered an unexpected bump in his road to recovery following shoulder surgery. Having already made one rehab start and scheduled for a second on Tuesday, Kershaw has been shut down due to "lingering soreness."
According to an MRI, there have been no new incidents to cause concern. However, Kershaw will not be throwing for at least a week before attempting to ramp back up. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts commented on the situation, noting, "This is part of the process as far as anyone that goes through rehab, that goes through a surgery, and is on his way back." Roberts added, "It's not surprising. It's not perfect, but it's not surprising in the fact that there is a little bit of a regression in the throwing process."
A Challenging Year for the Dodgers' Pitching Staff
Kershaw’s surgery last November repaired the glenohumeral ligaments and capsule in his left shoulder. In his first rehab outing, Kershaw pitched three innings and threw 36 pitches. For the Dodgers to seriously consider activating him to the big-league roster, he would need to be capable of finishing at least five innings and throwing around 75 pitches. If all goes well, Kershaw could return sometime in August.
Dodgers’ pitchers have been plagued with injuries this season. Walker Buehler started the season on the injured list, and Bobby Miller had a lengthy stint on the injured list as well. Kershaw, Dustin May, and Tony Gonsolin have spent the entirety of the year on the injured list, and recently, Yoshinobu Yamamoto was also added to the list of injured pitchers.
Dodgers Maintain a Strong Season
Despite these challenges, the Dodgers have managed to maintain a strong performance on the field. As of Monday, the team holds a 48-31 record and boasts an 8.5-game lead in the NL West. This resilience speaks volumes about the depth and adaptability of the Dodgers’ roster.
The unforeseen setbacks with Kershaw's recovery may pose short-term hurdles, but the Dodgers' management remains cautiously optimistic about his return. With a bit more time and precaution, the hope is to see Kershaw back on the mound, finishing strong for a team that has shown remarkable determination amidst adversity.