Dodgers left-handed pitcher Clayton Kershaw has faced an unexpected hurdle in his recovery path after shoulder surgery.
Kershaw, who recently underwent surgery to repair the glenohumeral ligaments and capsule in his left shoulder, has been halted in his comeback journey due to "lingering soreness." This development surfaced after he had successfully completed one rehab start and was scheduled for a second outing on Tuesday. Unfortunately, the discomfort has forced the Dodgers to shut him down temporarily.
As per the current prognosis, Kershaw will not be throwing for at least a week, after which he will attempt to gradually resume his pitching routine. Thankfully, an MRI has confirmed that there are no new incidents contributing to the pain.
Kershaw's first rehab appearance saw him pitch for three innings, requiring 36 pitches to get through his assignment. To be seriously considered for activation to the Dodgers' big-league roster, Kershaw needs to demonstrate his ability to finish at least five innings and handle around 75 pitches. Given the latest setback, his anticipated return might now be pushed to sometime in August.
"This is part of the process as far as anyone that goes through rehab, that goes through a surgery, and is on his way back," explained Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. He added, "It's not surprising. It's not perfect, but it's not surprising in the fact that there is a little bit of a regression in the throwing process."
The Dodgers' pitching staff has been grappling with a slew of injuries throughout the season. Walker Buehler began the season on the injured list, with Bobby Miller also having a lengthy stint on the sidelines. Furthermore, Clayton Kershaw, Dustin May, and Tony Gonsolin have not featured at all this year due to their respective injuries. Most recently, Yoshinobu Yamamoto was also added to the growing list of injured pitchers.
This barrage of injuries has not severely affected the Dodgers' performance thus far. As of Monday, the team boasts a 48-31 record, holding a comfortable 8.5-game lead in the NL West.
Despite the setbacks, the Dodgers have managed to stay competitive, showcasing the resilience and depth of their squad. However, the return of their star pitchers will undoubtedly be a significant boost as they aim for greater success as the season progresses. The hope remains that Kershaw, along with others, can make a timely return to strengthen the roster further.