Kershaw admits to injury-related anxiety before resurgent 2019

Clayton Kershaw began the season on the 10-day injured list with a recurring shoulder issue, and the longtime Los Angeles Dodgers ace was growing frustrated.

Injuries have limited his availability during recent seasons, and he said anxiety crept in during spring training.

"I was nervous in spring. For sure. I was nervous," Kershaw told Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register. "I didn’t know how to fix it. I didn’t know how to fix the problem. There wasn’t a clear, ‘Hey, do this and you’re going to fix the problem.’

And yet, Kershaw has stayed on the field since his activation in mid-April, and he's in the midst of a resurgent season. The 31-year-old southpaw is 12-2 with a 2.63 ERA and 141 strikeouts in 137 innings.

The eight-time All-Star is on pace to record his highest innings total since 2015, and he's completed six-plus innings in every start this season.

The injuries and ailments that plagued him have been largely absent.

"It’s fun. It really is," Kershaw said. "It’s great to wake up and (snaps fingers) your back doesn’t hurt, your shoulder doesn’t hurt, everything feels good. It’s awesome."

Kershaw will make his 22nd start of the season on Tuesday against the visiting Toronto Blue Jays.