Steve Webb
LOS ANGELES — On what was supposed to be a start day for Clayton Kershaw, the Dodgers announced today that instead, the legendary lefty is headed for a stint on the Injured List. Citing “right SI joint inflammation,” the team put Kershaw on the 15-day IL. Garrett Cleavinger has been recalled from Oklahoma City to take his roster spot.
Of course, this news is a total bummer for Dodger fans. However, there is a bit of a silver lining in this one. The SI joint is located in the lower half of the body, around the hip area. So this injury has nothing to do with his previous arm issue that plagued him last season. And, according to Dodger insider J.P. Hoornstra of the LA Daily News, the team does not look at this injury as a long-term situation. Because of new rules, pitchers are now required to spend a minimum of 15 days on the injured list. Kershaw’s IL stint was not backdated, so he cannot return before May 28.
In his place in the rotation, Walker Buehler will be starting on Friday night, moving up a day to make the start. Presumably, this means additional bullpen days in the coming week or two, plus maybe another start from Ryan Pepiot thrown in there somewhere.
Kershaw had been off to one of the best starts of his career in 2022. From his flirtation with a perfect game in his first start to his solid seven innings against the Cubs last Saturday, he has been brilliant this year. Over five starts, he has a 4-0 record with an ERA of 1.80 and a WHIP of a miniscule 0.73. During those 30 innings of work, Kersh has 32 strikeouts and issued just three walks.
Hopefully, it will be as the Dodgers predict, a minor blip on the radar. But we know that he will miss at least a couple of starts here in May. Hopefully, it will set the table for a triumphant return in June.
