Back issue hurdle for Kershaw

Dodgers ace misses start due to spasms

Clayton Kershaw was scratched Tuesday from his start for the Dodgers in Game 2 of the NL Championship Series due to back spasms, though manager Dave Roberts said the likelihood is very good their ace lefty will pitch in the series.

The three-time NL Cy Young Awardwinner initially felt spasms after a bullpen session Saturday, three days after he went six innings to win Game 2 of the National League Division Series against the Padres. Roberts said Kershaw has felt better each day since butwasn’t ready tomake the scheduled start against the Braves.

“Sunday, playedsomecatchand just started to dissipate, got a little bit better. And then yesterday, a little bit better, even more,” Roberts said. “And then today just woke up and felt that it justwasn’t quite where he wanted to be, we wanted it to be.”

Rookie TonyGonsolinmadehis major league postseason debut in Kershaw’s place with the Dodgers down 1-0 in the series to the Braves. The right-hander hadn’t pitched in a game since Sept. 26.

Kershaw played some catch on the field before Tuesday’s game. Roberts said he wouldn’t start Game 3 on Wednesday and wouldn’t commit to which game could be targeted for Kershaw’s return.

“It’s kind of day to day. So I just really don’twant to say what’s the soonest,” Roberts said. “I don’t know.”

Roberts didn’t say who would start Wednesday, ruling out only Game 1 starter Walker Buehler and DustinMay, who also pitched Monday night.

The Dodgers announced the decision on their longtime ace about six hours before the first pitch in Arlington, Texas. Kershaw dealt with back pain once previously during an otherwise resurgent season for the 32-yearold left-hander, a three-time NL CyYoungAwardwinner.

Roberts said the spasms weren’t related to the back tightness that forced Kershaw to miss his opening start of the regular season.

Kershawrecovered quickly and went 6-2 with a 2.16 ERA in 10 starts as the Dodgers finished with the majors’ best record. He had 62 strikeouts in 581⁄ innings

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and finished second in the NL with an 0.84 WHIP, while opponents batted just .194 against him. Kershaw has kept it up in the postseason with victories in two strong starts.

“He’s been completely dominant all year. He’s been an ace. He’s back to his form and being totally dominant,” May said. “He’s definitely a leader and a key guy to our group. And I just hope that he’s going to be able to come back.”

When Kershaw wasn’t ready for the opener, the 23-year-old May became the first Dodgers rookie to start on opening day since Fernando Valenzuela in 1981.

Kershaw threw eight scoreless innings of three-hit ball and struck out a career postseasonbest 13 to beat the Brewers in the wild-card round. Kershaw picked up another win in the Division Series while allowing three runs over six innings against the Padres.

Kershaw has dominated the Braves throughout his career, going 7-0with a 1.49ERAin 14 starts. He is 2-0 in three postseason starts against the Braves, allowing just one earned run in 21 innings.

Although Kershaw has endured playoff problems in the past, his 11 postseason victories are the most in Dodgers history.

Gonsolin earned a spot in the Dodgers’ rotation in late August after several outstanding spot starts. He had a 2.31 ERA in nine games during the regular season with 46 strikeouts in 462⁄ in

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nings.

Braves lose Duvall: Braves outfielder Adam Duvall will miss the rest of the postseason because of an injury to his left side.

He was replaced on the roster for the NLCS against the Dodgers by infielder Johan Camargo. Duvall will not be eligible to play in the rest of the postseason.

Duvall hurt his oblique in the second inning ofMonday’s opener when he fouled off a pitch in the second inning.