Image Courtesy of Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
The undisputed ace of the Los Angeles Dodgers staff, Clayton Kershaw has been placed on the 15-Day disabled list after having issues with his back on Saturday. The trip to the DL is retroactive to March 23rd making Kershaw available to return by April 7th.
The disabled list is uncharted water for Kershaw, who has never made a trip to the DL for any length of time in his career. In fact, the 2-time National League Cy Young Award winner has been remarkably healthy considering the number of innings he has pitched. He just signed a seven-year, $215 million contract this past offseason.
Kershaw had pitched very well in the unofficial opener in Australia last week when he had worked 6 2/3 innings giving up one run and striking out seven in the win. Between then and now there has been discomfort in his back. With the marathon Major League Baseball season still ahead the Dodgers and Kershaw and playing things safe scratching him from his scheduled start against San Diego.
With Kershaw out the Dodgers are turning to Hyun-jin Ryu to make the start against the Padres. Ryu will be entering his second year after putting together a 14-8 record with a 3.00 ERA and 154 strikeouts in his rookie season. Assuming Kershaw returns April 7th and is healthy there should be no ill effects for him or the Dodgers going forward this season.
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