The Los Angeles Dodgers will start their 2024 MLB playoff run with out Clayton Kershaw. And finish it, too.
Dodgers supervisor Dave Roberts confirmed to reporters Saturday, hours earlier than the workforce is scheduled to face the San Diego Padres within the NLDS, that Kershaw has been dominated out for the whole 2024 postseason. The three-time Cy Younger winner has been on the IL since August with a bone spur in his toe.
From the Related Press:
“Clayton has accomplished every part he can to maintain this factor transferring ahead and giving himself an opportunity to take part within the postseason,” Roberts mentioned. “However the place he’s at proper now, bodily, the foot, the toe simply shouldn’t be cooperating. It’s really getting worse.”
Kershaw re-signed with the Dodgers final offseason on an incentive-laden one-year deal. The contract was signed with the information that the 36-year-old wouldn’t be prepared till halfway by means of the season after present process shoulder surgical procedure following the 2023 season.
He ended up making his debut on July 25, and made a complete of seven begins earlier than working into the toe challenge. As a result of he made seven begins, Kershaw will obtain his $5 million base wage for 2024, $2.5 million in incentives and a $5 million participant choice for subsequent season. He’ll obtain none of his postseason bonuses, which have been appreciable.
The damage once more creates the query of whether or not Kershaw has performed his remaining sport in a Dodger uniform. A part of the rationale he got here again was the brutal method his season ended final 12 months, permitting six earned runs and getting just one out towards the Arizona Diamondbacks within the 2024 NLDS, however this season wasn’t significantly better.
Kershaw posted a unfavorable bWAR and a 4.50 ERA whereas averaging 4.3 innings per begin. It has now been 5 years since Kershaw certified for the ERA title, and 9 since he broke 200 innings. Retirement could possibly be as a lot a chance for him as leaving for one more workforce.
Roberts additionally mentioned Saturday that veteran reliever Joe Kelly was left off the Dodgers’ NLDS roster after tweaking his shoulder in a simulated sport, leaving the workforce with out yet one more pitcher whereas dealing with their NLDS rivals. Along with Kershaw and Kelly, Los Angeles is lacking the likes of Tyler Glasnow, Gavin Stone, Tony Gonsolin, Dustin Could, Brusdar Graterol and extra.
On the Padres facet, the workforce will probably be with out All-Star starter Joe Musgrove, who is about to bear Tommy John surgical procedure.
