Kershaw to miss at least 1 turn through rotation after break
When Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts laid out his rotation Sunday for the first five games after All-Star break, he didn't include the MLB leader in ERA, WHIP, and strikeout-to-walk ratio.
"No (Clayton) Kershaw," Roberts told reporters ahead of Sunday's first-half finale against the San Diego Padres, noting that Bud Norris, Brandon McCarthy, Kenta Maeda, Scott Kazmir, and Hyun-Jin Ryu will start the first five games of the second half.
Roberts said that Kershaw did throw a light bullpen session Sunday - his first since landing on the disabled list June 27 due to a herniated disk in his lower back - and could return to the rotation toward the end of the nine-game road trip that kicks off Los Angeles' second half.
"To see Clayton in a 'pen, throwing off a mound, is definitely encouraging," said Roberts.
Kershaw, who received an epidural injection in his lower back June 30, threw roughly 25 pitches in Sunday's session, and barring any setbacks, will throw another bullpen in San Diego during the All-Star break before facing live hitters at Dodger Stadium during the club's first series out of the break.
"All good," Kershaw said after the bullpen session in which he threw all pitches and had no discomfort.