With the postseason getting underway subsequent week, the Dodgers determine to be with out Clayton Kershaw no less than into the center of October. Supervisor Dave Roberts informed reporters that the longer term Corridor of Famer is “not going to be viable for a pair weeks,” through Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic. Kershaw has been out since late August on account of bone spurs in his left massive toe.
Roberts mentioned earlier within the week that the three-time Cy Younger winner was in a “holding sample” on his rehab. That didn’t bode properly for his availability for the beginning of the playoffs. That’s a lock now. The Dodgers would clinch the NL West and a first-round bye with a win over the Padres Thursday night time. Assuming they wrap up the division — both in that sport or throughout their weekend sequence in Colorado — they’ll punch their ticket to the NL Division Collection starting subsequent weekend.
Kershaw clearly isn’t going to be prepared by that time. The NLCS begins on Oct. 13. Roberts’ timeline leaves open the potential of Kershaw returning for that sequence if the Dodgers get there, however it’s removed from assured. The Dodgers have already dominated out Tyler Glasnow and Gavin Stone via all the postseason. Kershaw’s return appears questionable at finest.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Jack Flaherty will take the ball in some order for the primary two video games of the postseason. Rookie righty Landon Knack in all probability traces up as L.A.’s Sport 3 starter. The Dodgers haven’t managed to get Walker Buehler on monitor, whereas Bobby Miller pitched so poorly that he was optioned again to Triple-A a number of weeks in the past.
Kershaw’s common season concludes with a 4.50 ERA over 30 innings. He didn’t make his season debut till shortly after the All-Star break as he accomplished rehab from final November’s shoulder surgical procedure. He made seven begins. That’s vital from a contractual perspective. Kershaw’s two-year, $10M deal contained a ton of incentives. He tacked on $2.5M to this 12 months’s $5M base wage. Attending to seven begins additionally added $5M in escalators to subsequent 12 months’s participant possibility. That possibility was initially valued at $5M however will land at $10M; Kershaw might increase that as excessive as $25M if he makes 25 begins subsequent 12 months.
The Dodgers supplied a number of further damage updates as properly. Miguel Rojas, who left Wednesday night time’s sport, mentioned that he’s been recognized with {a partially} torn left adductor (groin) muscle, through Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Instances. The veteran infielder mentioned he’ll must endure surgical procedure within the offseason however believes he’ll be capable of play via it through the postseason. Rojas has emerged as Roberts’ beginning shortstop due to his defensive reliability and a stable .283/.337/.410 exhibiting on the plate. He received’t play Thursday night time. Tommy Edman strikes in to play shortstop, whereas Andy Pages steps into the lineup in heart discipline.
The bullpen can be taking a success. Roberts mentioned that righty Brusdar Graterol goes again on the 15-day injured checklist as a consequence of shoulder irritation, through Jack Harris of the L.A. Times. Graterol has battled shoulder issues relationship again to spring coaching. He additionally misplaced a number of weeks late within the 12 months to a hamstring pressure. The hard-throwing sinkerballer has been restricted to seven appearances, throughout which he has thrown 7 2/3 frames of two-run ball. Graterol was among the best relievers in MLB final 12 months, delivering a 1.20 ERA throughout 67 1/3 frames.
