Clayton Kershaw Put on Disabled Listed by Dodgers

The Los Angeles Dodgers placed their ace pitcher Clayton Kershaw on their 10-day disabled list due to tendinitis in his left biceps. Manager Dave Roberts said that the Dodgers were cautiously optimistic over Kershaw’s condition. The Los Angeles pitching ace started to feel discomfort while he was playing catch on Saturday.

Roberts told the media on Sunday that if it were another part of his pitcher’s arm, he would be more concerned, but since it is the biceps the team is more hopeful.

The Dodgers made the announcement to put their ace on the DL prior to their 3-0 loss on Sunday to San Diego that completed a three-game series with the Padres south of the border in Monterrey, Mexico.

On Sunday, an MRI confirmed the diagnosis the team’s medical staff made and the Dodgers said Kershaw would start rehab in Los Angeles on Monday.

The Dodgers will activate veteran southpaw Rich Hill from their DL to take the spot of Kershaw in their rotation on Tuesday versus Arizona. Hill has been on the team’s DL due to a cracked fingernail since April 18.

Kershaw, who is 30, has struggled during his last three starts, giving up nine earned runs in a span of 18 innings during that period.

This marks the third consecutive season in which Kershaw has been put on the DL by the Dodgers. He was put there in 2017 for a period of five weeks due to a back strain, while in 2016 he missed more than two months due to a herniated disk in his lower back. However, prior to that he was put on the DL just once (2014) between 2008 and 2015.

The winner of three Cy Young Awards is 1-4 thus far despite having an ERA of 2.86 and 49 strikeouts over 44 innings pitched. The four losses Kershaw has suffered are equal to the amount he had during the entre last two season when in 2016 he finished 12-4 and in 2017 he was 18-4.

The Dodgers have a high-profile list of players on their DL with shortstop Corey Seager out the remainder of the season with an elbow injury and Tommy John surgery, third baseman Justin Turner yet to play this season due to a broken wrist and starting pitcher Hyun-Jin Ryu, who has been their best starter thus far this season, out with a groin injury until sometime after the All-Star Game.