Dodgers: Clayton Kershaw Placed on the Injured List, Will Not Start Opening Day
The Dodgers were set to face off against the Giants on Thursday night with Clayton Kershaw taking the mound for a record 9th time. That, unfortunately, will not be happening, as the team placed Kershaw on the 10-day injured list today.
Kershaw heads to the IL with back stiffness. In his place, rookie right-hander Dustin May has been recalled from LA’s alternate site and will make his first opening day start
The Los Angeles Dodgers have placed LHP Clayton Kershaw on the injured list with back stiffness and have recalled right-handed pitcher Dustin May.
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) July 23, 2020
Manager Dave Roberts said that Kershaw injured his back in a workout on Tuesday and the club notified May on Wednesday that he could get the opening day nod.
The 22-year-old May becomes the first Dodger rookie to start on Opening Day since Fernando Valenzuela in 1981.
More on May
The Texas native made his Major League debut on August 2, 2019 against the San Diego Padres. In his first big league season, he went 2-3 with a 3.63 ERA (14 ER/34.2 IP) with 32 strikeouts. Originally drafted in the third round of the 2016 First Year Player Draft out of Northwest High School (TX), May has posted a 24-17 record with a 3.50 ERA in 78 games (73 starts) in the Dodger organization. He entered the season as the 23rd-rated prospect according to MLB.com and participated in the 2019 Futures Game.
As of now, the club is not ready to say when Kershaw could make his 2020 debut, his IL stint was backdated, may likely be ready to start in Arizona next week, according to Roberts.
MLB News: League Votes to Drastically Alter Playoff Format for 2020
Man this sooks the big tuna….
Wow cant believe it!! Sorry to hear that Clayton will not be pitching for us tonite for Opening Day 2020..Dustin all Dodger Fans wish you the very best tonite and Lets BEAT those giants!!! You can do it Dustin and we are standing behind you!!
Just a bit earlier, one of the expert commentators was surmising that May might be down on the farm (well, USC) for quite some time. So much for that. Go Blue!
Surprise, surprise! Right!
Guess the season was just one day too long for the oft injured CK…
Too bad this couldn’t have happened right before October
This is his way to opt-out of the season and get paid for it.