Kershaw misses Dodgers start due to back spasms
ARLINGTON, Texas – The Dodgers, already facing a steep climb after dropping Game 1 of the National League Championship Series, suffered another blow Tuesday when they scratched Clayton Kershaw from his Game 2 start due to back spasms.
Rookie Tony Gonsolin was set to make his postseason debut in Kershaw’s place.
Kershaw, the 32-year-old three-time Cy Young Award winner with a famously mixed postseason track record, again was the Dodgers’ best pitcher this season, posting a 2.16 ERA and 0.84 WHIP in 10 starts. He also registered victories in each of LA’s first two playoff series, shutting out the Brewers over eight innings and striking out 13 to close out their wild-card series sweep.
Now, the Dodgers will be hard-pressed to match the dominant Braves’ staff if Kershaw cannot come back in Games 3 or 4. Dustin May, like Gonsolin a rookie righthander, pitched 1 1⁄ innings in relief in Game 1, a 5-1 At
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Lefty Julio Urias, often deployed as the “bulk pitcher” following an opener, will also figure heavily in the Dodgers’ immediate plans. Urias pitched five key innings in relief of May and Adam Kolarek to win the Dodgers’ decisive Game 3 of the division series against the Padres.
Kershaw has made 27 postseason starts and planned to start his first playoff game near his hometown of Dallas. Instead, the lefty will grapple with back issues that first sidelined him in 2016, when he was limited to 21 starts.
With no off days in this best-of-seven series, Kershaw has less time to recuperate. The format ensures Kershaw will only start one game this series; a Game 3 start would force him to pitch a Game 7 on short rest, which seems unlikely given his back spasms.
The Dodgers will likely play a pitcher down until Kershaw returns. If he is replaced on the roster midseries, he’ll be ineligible to pitch in the World Series.