Kershaw: Anderson's injury puts pressure on rotation

Clayton Kershaw may be one of the game's top pitchers, but he knows it takes great efforts from an entire starting staff to win a pennant, which made the loss of Brett Anderson to back surgery for three-to-five months a big one for the Los Angeles Dodgers' rotation.

After pitching two scoreless innings in his spring debut against the Chicago White Sox on Thursday, the Dodgers ace discussed the future of the team's rotation after the club announced Anderson would be out for the first half of the season.

"Any time you have injuries, you just (have) to have one more guy almost pitch above expectations," Kershaw told reporters. "It's one thing to play to the expectations you have individually that you're supposed to do. But when guys are constantly having to step up and step up, it gets tough. We'll see."

News of Anderson's second back surgery since 2014 was a tough one to swallow for Kershaw, who has known his teammate since he was a teenager. But he's going to do his best to keep his focus, and hope the rest of the rotation steps up with Anderson out.

"That's a bummer," Kershaw said. "From a team standpoint, obviously he was such a big part of it last year and he was able to stay healthy. That was the knock on him. I've known him since we were 16, so I know the kind of stuff he has. And just personally, I can't imagine going through one back surgery, let alone two. I feel bad for him.

"My goal is every fifth day to pitch nine innings and not give up a run. That's my goal. Regardless of who is here, that's kind of individually my goal and that doesn't change with who is in the rotation."

Anderson's spot in the rotation could likely be filled by one of Brandon Beachy, Mike Bolsinger, Carlos Frias, or even prospects Julio Urias or Jose De Leon.

Anderson - who accepted a $15.8-million qualifying offer - logged a career-high 180 1/3 innings in 2015, posting a 3.69 ERA and 1.33 WHIP in 31 starts.