Why Clayton Kershaw's Back Issues Will Continue To Bother Dodgers' Ace

The Dodgers placed 34-year-old southpaw Clayton Kershaw on the 15-day IL after he suffered a low-back injury in the fifth inning on Thursday night.

The Pro Baseball Docs assert that because of his rising age and long history of back injuries, Kershaw is at a constant risk of suffering another flare up. 

Clayton Kershaw Injury Update

Kershaw has been sent to the IL with a back injury five times since 2016 and, after multiple strains or herniated discs, it is only a matter of time before it flares up again, according to the Docs.

The 15-year starter most recently dealt with a back injury in 2020, during which he spent the 10-day minimum on the IL in late-July and missed an NLCS start because of spasms.

Dave Roberts said Kershaw will miss 2-to-4 weeks but the length of his absence will ultimately be determined by the results of his upcoming tests. 

Kershaw joins starters Walker Buehler (flexor strain) and Dustin May (Tommy John recovery) as well as key relievers Brusdar Graterol and Blake Treinen (shoulder soreness) on the Dodgers' IL. 

Kershaw, hosting a 2.64 ERA and 88 strikeouts in 85.1 IP this season, signed a one-year, $17 million deal with the Dodgers in March after being shut down in the playoffs with elbow inflammation.

He has now gone to the IL twice this season after missing five weeks with right hip inflammation in early May after a dominant first five starts. 

One of those starts – his first of the season – became controversial when Roberts removed Kershaw while he was nursing a perfect game after seven innings.

The Pro Baseball Docs said at the time that the lockout was to blame and that Roberts was making the right decision in an effort to save Kershaw for the stretch run of the season. 

The future HOFer hasn't logged over 125 IP in a season since 2019, hasn't pitched 180 innings since 2015, and has missed at least one playoff start due to injury in the last two seasons.

Luckily, when the lanky lefty is on the field he has shown no signs of being limited by his lingering issues, posting a 2.61 ERA and 1,012 strikeouts in 150 games since 2016 and recently being named the 2022 NL All-Star starter.