The Los Angeles Dodgers will enter the postseason without one of their all-time greats.
Three-time Cy Young award winner Clayton Kershaw, on the 15-day injured list since August 31, will not be on the Dodgers’ playoff roster. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said on Tuesday that he didn’t “think there’s been improvement” in Kershaw’s recovery from inflammation in his left big toe caused by a bone spur.
Roberts described his recovery as stuck in “a holding pattern,” with Kershaw unable to face hitters and limited to playing catch.
In the past, Roberts has suggested that Kershaw’s injury was more substantial than dealing with the discomfort. “You’re talking about the foot, the toe, the push-off, trying to throw 75 to 100 pitches, building the boy to then get the hand speed to execute pitches,” he said.
Roberts said that any chance of having Kershaw in the Dodgers’ playoff rotation was weeks away at best.
Kershaw acknowledged the lack of improvement on Thursday. “It’s progressing, it’s just obviously not as fast as I hoped or wanted,” he said. It’s just not there yet.”
However, Kershaw has not given up on the possibility that he could return at some point. “I’m going to keep trying every day,” he said. “Maybe it’ll feel better one day. I’m just waiting for that day to happen.”
If Kershaw can’t pitch this postseason, it would be another blow to his playoff legacy. Though he ranks second all-time in regular season wins for the Dodgers with 212, he’s only 13-13 in the playoffs with a 4.49 earned run average, nearly two runs higher than his regular season ERA (2.50).
He was at his best during the Dodgers’ run to the 2020 World Series championship, going 4-1 in the postseason (2-0 World Series) and allowing 10 earned runs over 30 ⅔ innings, with 37 strikeouts.
More MLB: Mets slugger "makes sense" for Nationals this offseason, per insider
