Clayton Kershaw is postponing his return to the mound for at least several more weeks. The Los Angeles Dodgers ace told reporters on Saturday that he isn’t expecting to start pitching until early August.
Kershaw landed on the Injured List in late June with shoulder inflammation. He was initially supposed to return to action after the All-Star break, but recent MRI tests showed he would need a longer break.
“It’s the weirdest thing,” Kershaw told reporters. “I feel completely fine. The shoulder feels good. I’ve just been told it has to rest … I don’t know what to make of it. But I’m just gonna have to listen to them.”
Kershaw enjoyed a stellar campaign before the injury. In 16 starts he made, the 35-year-old player has a 10-4 record and an NL-leading 2.55 ERA with 105 strikeouts. He earned his 10th All-Star selection in 2023 but was unable to attend due to an injury.
With Kershaw now out for longer than expected, the Los Angeles Dodgers will have to come up with a plan for their rotation. The most likely outcome is that the team will try and get a veteran pitcher on the trade market. However, it is entirely possible that they will take a flyer on their rookies Bobby Miller, Emmet Sheehan, and Michael Grove and see where that takes them.
