Breaking: Clayton Kershaw To Have MRI On Back Following Return Start

Clayton Kershaw will soon have more MRI’s during the course of his 2018 season than wins. Following his return start against the Philadelphia Phillies, Kershaw said he felt his back tighten up during the outing.

Clayton Kershaw discusses his start and his lower back tightness that sounds like it might put him back on the DL. #Dodgers pic.twitter.com/sLwhuWnur9

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— Michael J. Duarte (@michaeljduarte) June 1, 2018

Just minutes following his postgame comments, the team announced that he will undergo an MRI on his back tomorrow. This is just not any fun for me to report.

Not official, but sounds like Clayton Kershaw is headed back to the DL. Will have an MRI on his back tomorrow. #Dodgers

— Michael J. Duarte (@michaeljduarte) June 1, 2018

Kershaw didn’t quite look himself on Thursday afternoon. His fastball velocity sat consistently between 88 and 90 miles per hour. When I say ‘consistently’, not a single pitch was above 90 on the radar gun of the 20 four-seam fastballs that he threw.

https://twitter.com/ESPNStatsInfo/status/1002359701374361602

Kershaw survived the start on sheer grit and competitiveness. He went five innings, allowing just one earned run and striking out five. Kershaw allowed four hits and one walk. Further, he struck out the side in his final inning.

The Dodgers lost the game 2-1.

Reaction

This is beginning to get solemn. Are we seeing one of the great ones physically break down before our very eyes? My one hope for today was for Kershaw to simply make it through the start without any physical issues. Kershaw has faced a litany of physical tests over the past few seasons – and it’s fair to wonder if we will ever see him pitch at 100 percent again. There is obvious concern for the health of the greatest pitcher during the modern Dodgers’ era. Beyond that, the rotation is beginning to get thin with Kenta Maeda, Hyun-Jin Ryu, Rich Hill, and now Kershaw on the shelf. The Dodgers will need to continue to bail water out of the boat – and that water is getting higher rapidly.