Stripling, Dodgers trounce the Giants again
LOS ANGELES — Clayton Kershaw spent a few innings Thursday in the left-field bleachers, then the weight room, the Los Angeles Dodgers’ empty clubhouse, and back in the outfield.
He appeared repeatedly on the game’s television broadcast, racing around in a Hankook Tire commercial and slipping into shoes for a Skechers ad.
On opening day, the Dodgers’ scheduled No. 1 pitcher was seemingly everywhere — except on the mound at Dodger Stadium.
“It was a weird day all the way around,” said Kershaw, who instead of making his franchise-record ninth opening day start was placed on the 10day injured list earlier in the afternoon with back stiffness.
“The timing couldn’t have been worse,” he added during a Zoom call Friday. “Working all that time trying to stay ready, I really felt so good going into the season. It was pretty defeating honestly. Just like, how is this happening right now?”
The questions now: How much time will the three-time Cy Young Award winner miss, and how effectively the Dodgers will cover his absence in this pandemic-shortened 60-game season?
Kershaw is hopeful for a quick recovery. After sustaining the injury during a Tuesday training session, he received clean results on an MRI and has been undergoing daily treatment.
Before the Dodgers’ 9-1 victory over the San Francisco Giants on Friday night, he played catch, up to 90 feet, in the outfield.
“It’s not too serious,” Kershaw said. “It’s getting better pretty quick. Optimistic it shouldn’t be much longer than my original stint on the IL.”
Still, the left-hander will miss at least one more scheduled start Wednesday at the Houston Astros before becoming eligible to return. Manager Dave Roberts said there is a “good chance” rookie Dustin May, who gave up only one run in 4 1/3 innings as Kershaw’s replacement Thursday, will fill in