The journey back to the mound for Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw has encountered another twist with an unexpected setback following his shoulder surgery. The left-handed pitcher, who underwent surgery last November to repair the glenohumeral ligaments and capsule in his left shoulder, has been dealing with "lingering soreness" after already making one rehab start and was scheduled for a second on Tuesday.
A Temporary Halt
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts confirmed the development, noting the nature of the recovery process. "This is part of the process as far as anyone that goes through rehab, that goes through a surgery, and is on his way back," Roberts explained. "It's not surprising. It's not perfect, but it's not surprising in the fact that there is a little bit of a regression in the throwing process."
As a result, Kershaw will be shut down from throwing for at least a week before attempting to ramp back up. This precautionary measure follows an MRI which revealed no new issues, providing a sigh of relief amidst the setback.
Rehab Timeline
In Kershaw’s first rehab outing, he pitched three innings and threw 36 pitches. The Dodgers' expectations for his return are clear: Kershaw must be capable of finishing at least five innings and throwing around 75 pitches before any thoughts of activating him to the big-league roster surface. Given the current halt in his progress, a return sometime in August appears to be the most optimistic timeline.
The Dodgers' Injuries Woes
Kershaw's recovery saga is a microcosm of the broader challenges faced by the Dodgers' pitching staff this season. Injuries have relentlessly plagued the team, with notable pitchers like Walker Buehler kicking off the season on the injured list. Bobby Miller, Clayton Kershaw, Dustin May, and Tony Gonsolin have all been sidelined for the entire year, and Yoshinobu Yamamoto has recently joined them on the list of injured pitchers.
Despite these setbacks, the Dodgers have managed to maintain an impressive 48-31 record, holding a commanding 8.5-game lead in the NL West as of Monday. The resilience and depth of the team are commendable, but the return of seasoned players like Kershaw could provide an invaluable boost as they continue their quest for postseason success.
Looking Ahead
The Dodgers and their fans eagerly await Kershaw’s return, understanding that each step in his recovery is crucial. The weeklong hiatus from throwing will be a critical period for Kershaw to recuperate from the soreness and advance towards the next phase of his rehab. His presence on the mound could be a pivotal factor in fortifying the Dodgers' rotation as they aim to make a deep run in the playoffs.
As the team navigates this challenging landscape, Manager Dave Roberts’ perspective remains pragmatic, grounding his approach in the understanding that such regressions are a part of the journey back from significant surgical procedures. For now, patience and caution are the watchwords as Clayton Kershaw continues his push to return to the heights of his storied career.