Dodgers' 'pen grinds out big win after early exit for Kershaw (toe pain) (2024)

Veteran left-hander's next start in question as he deals with recurrent bone spur issue

August 31st, 2024

Dodgers' 'pen grinds out big win after early exit for Kershaw (toe pain) (1)

Michael Reynolds

@mreynoldsMLB

PHOENIX -- Before the Dodgers opened a crucial four-game showdown with a 10-9 nail-biting win over the D-backs on Friday night at Chase Field, manager Dave Roberts was almost giddy at the return to the lineup of Freddie Freeman, who had missed the last three games due to the lingering effects of a fractured right middle finger.

“I think this is as healthy as we’ve been, which is really encouraging,” Roberts said. “... Just [having a healthy] bullpen, the starting position players, with the depth, all that stuff and getting Freddie back in the lineup, it’s fun. It was fun to write tonight’s lineup out.”

Freeman had a homer and three RBIs in the first two innings, L.A. had a three-run lead and there was no concern about broken fingers in the Dodgers’ dugout. But one batter into the D-backs’ half of the second, Clayton Kershaw’s left big toe pulled a rug out from under the good vibes.

Kershaw, who had allowed two runs on two hits in a 25-pitch first inning, allowed a leadoff homer to Corbin Carroll on the second pitch of the second and was removed from the game after a visit from Roberts and a trainer with what the club announced was left big toe pain.

“I just couldn’t really push off,” Kershaw said. “It’s frustrating when everything else seems to be feeling great. No matter what I did, I couldn’t find a comfortable way to push off on my toe. Super frustrating.”

Roberts said postgame that the issue was caused by a bone spur that Kershaw has had to navigate for “maybe a couple of years.” Roberts said Kershaw told him they may have a problem after the first inning, so Joe Kelly was already warming up in the bullpen when Carroll homered.

While the rotation certainly had its question marks even before Kershaw exited, the bullpen is loaded. Even without Brusdar Graterol (right hamstring strain), Los Angeles is in as good a position as any club to roll out an unplanned bullpen game when its starter exits after one-plus inning. On Friday, the Dodgers deployed Kelly, Alex Vesia, Ryan Brasier, Michael Kopech, Daniel Hudson, Blake Treinen and Anthony Banda to cover the remaining eight innings.

Roberts said he really didn’t want to go to Banda for a third straight day, but he was forced to call on the lefty to protect a five-run lead in the ninth. The D-backs plated four, but the 31-year-old veteran held on.

“I put the team in a really tough spot, having the bullpen cover eight innings,” Kershaw said. “But the team did amazing, they battled and grinded. And the bullpen is hanging after today, and I’m disappointed that I was the culprit of that, but they did an unbelievable job.”

Kershaw and Roberts both said they had to wait to see what Saturday brings before deciding how this injury is going to affect Kershaw’s immediate future, but Roberts said he’d “be shocked if we don’t have to make a move.”

The Dodgers’ rotation is already without Tyler Glasnow (right elbow tendinitis) and Yoshinobu Yamamoto (right triceps tightness), not to mention Tony Gonsolin (2023 Tommy John surgery), River Ryan (’24 Tommy John surgery) and Dustin May, who is out until ’25 following elbow and esophagus surgeries.

Yamamoto is the closest to returning. He’ll make his second rehab start at Triple-A Oklahoma City on Tuesday, but that outing is only expected to be for three innings and he’ll almost certainly need at least one more start before rejoining the Dodgers.

Glasnow is being brought back slowly and there’s no guarantee that he’ll even return this season.

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Gavin Stone is set to start against the D-backs on Saturday, and Jack Flaherty is scheduled for Monday’s finale. The Dodgers have yet to announce Sunday’s starter. Walker Buehler and Bobby Miller won’t take the mound this series, so Sunday’s start will likely go to lefty Justin Wrobleski, who is currently at Triple-A Oklahoma City.

Wrobleski filled in for Buehler with four starts in July and made another spot start on Aug. 16, posting a 4.68 ERA over 25 innings. The 24-year-old is ranked by MLB Pipeline as the Dodgers’ No. 6 prospect.

As the Dodgers try to navigate this crucial series with a suddenly overworked bullpen, the good news is they will be able to add two players on Sunday without sending anyone down due to MLB’s September roster expansion to 28 players, though they are limited to carrying 14 pitchers.

Dodgers' 'pen grinds out big win after early exit for Kershaw (toe pain) (2024)

FAQs

What's going on with Kershaw on the Dodgers? ›

The team announced he was removed with left big toe pain, and he was placed on the 15-day IL with inflammation the next day. Kershaw told reporters that he'd been dealing with a bone spur there for years, and Roberts said, "There's so much swelling, he can barely move around with it."

How long has Kershaw been with the Dodgers? ›

He has played with the Dodgers consistently since 2008, maintaining a 212-94 win-loss record with a 2.49 ERA and 2,698 strikeouts. Kershaw has led the NL in wins three times, ERA five times, and strikeouts three times. He also pitched a no-hitter on June 18, 2014, and won the 2020 World Series.

Will Kershaw return in 2024? ›

Los Angeles Dodgers left-handed pitcher and future Hall of Famer Clayton Kershaw will soon make his 2024 season debut. The Dodgers revealed Kershaw's return date, which will take place this upcoming Thursday against division rivals the San Francisco Giants.

Why did they pull Kershaw? ›

Kershaw, who had allowed two runs on two hits in a 25-pitch first inning, allowed a leadoff homer to Corbin Carroll on the second pitch of the second and was removed from the game after a visit from Roberts and a trainer with what the club announced was left big toe pain.

When was the last Dodgers no hitter? ›

5/4/2018

How many games did Kershaw play? ›

Career Regular Season
GW-LIP
432212-942742.2

How many World Series has Clayton Kershaw been in? ›

Clayton Kershaw is 3-2 with an ERA of 4.46 and 41 strikeouts in 7 appearances in the World Series in his career.

Why isn t Kershaw pitching for the Dodgers? ›

Following the 2023 season, Kershaw underwent shoulder surgery to fix the gleno-humeral ligaments and capsule in his left shoulder in November. He will not be ready to return at the start of the season, but said in his initial statement that he was hoping to return to play at some point in the summer.

Does Clayton Kershaw have a wife? ›

Clayton and Ellen are high school sweethearts and married in 2010. They have four children, Cali Ann, Charley, Cooper and Chance.

Is Mookie Betts back? ›

On Friday, Roberts and the Dodgers completely reversed course, announcing Betts is going back to right field, the position he's won six Gold Glove Awards in. “I know that I said we want to start with Mookie out there at short, to then give the potential to pivot out there,” Roberts said.

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