Report: Dodgers' Clayton Kershaw to miss 4-to-6 weeks with back injury
Clayton Kershaw could be sidelined into September by a back injury that forced him out of Sunday’s game, according to a published report.
Fox Sports reported that an initial prognosis by the Los Angeles Dodgers indicated Kershaw will miss four to six weeks with his latest lower back injury. The report indicated Kershaw had not yet been examined by specialist Robert Watkins, who worked with Kershaw on rehabilitating a herniated disc that cost him 10 weeks of the 2016 season.
While the timelines are different, one similarity remains: Kershaw will have a relatively narrow window to ramp up for postseason action.
"Relative to the scan from last year, much better," manager Dave Roberts said. "We have to take it day to day and see how he responds to medication and rest."
"A timetable has kind of put out there, but we don't know. With Clayton, medicine and his desire, anything can happen," he said.
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Should the three-time Cy Young Award winner miss six weeks, that would put his return at almost the exact date he came back last season – Sept. 9. Kershaw managed to make five September starts – pitching 3, 5, 6 and 7 innings (twice) and made five postseason appearances as the Dodgers advanced to the National League Championship Series.
This year, the Dodgers are a major league-best 68-31 and hold a 10 ½-game lead in the NL West. So their focus now will be squarely on getting Kershaw right for October.
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