Dodgers News: Clayton Kershaw on Being on the DL “It’s awful”

The Los Angeles Dodgers are slowly getting things going as players are returning from injury. Unfortunately, Clayton Kershaw remains on the disabled list. Kershaw (back) was placed on the disabled list on July 1 (retroactive to June 27).

On Saturday Kershaw met with the media to talk about his injury and being on the DL.

From Ron Cervenka, ThinkBlueLA:

“I feel a little better now,” said a visibly upset Kershaw. “It’s still a little early to tell [if the epidural is working]. Usually it takes three to five days and today is the third day. I think I’m starting to get a little relief, I’m pretty sure.”

“I’m going to be very impatient and I’m going to try to pitch tomorrow,” Kershaw said, only half kidding.

“The DL sucks. There’s no getting around it, it’s awful,” he added seriously. “It’s worse coming to the field every day. You just feel like whether you do or not, you feel like you’re letting the team down by not pitching. It’s just the way it is and you just gotta kinda get through it.”

Before going on the DL, Kershaw struggled vs. the Pittsburg Pirates, in what some categorized as an “uncharacteristic” outing.

Clayton Kershaw had an uncharacteristic start in the Dodgers' 4-3 loss to Pirates. pic.twitter.com/kwjZEe5WZG

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) June 27, 2016

Some speculated about if his back injury had to do with Kershaw struggling vs. Pirates, but he denied the two from having any correlation.

“The game Sunday [June 26, against the Pirates], I felt fine,” Kershaw said. “And then Monday it started getting a little worse. It was probably time at that point to get checked out.”

Kershaw’s official diagnosis is a mild disc herniation. The good news was that he would not require surgery.

Clayton Kershaw has his own plan to recover, but concedes it may not align with what doctors say. pic.twitter.com/SvNJqt7aGb

— Matthew Moreno (@MMoreno1015) July 3, 2016

Furthermore, the team has rallied since Kershaw has gone down with players stepping up in crucial times.

In 3 games since it was announced Kershaw would go on the DL, Dodgers starters have allowed 1 run in 18 innings with a 24/3 K/BB.

— Joe Davis (@Joe_Davis) July 3, 2016

Since finding out Clayton Kershaw was heading to the DL, the Dodgers are 5-0.

— Vincent Samperio (@VinceSamperio) July 5, 2016

The Dodgers are in the middle of their longest home stand before the All-Star break. The Dodgers begin their series vs. the Baltimore Orioles before closing out the series vs. the San Diego Padres.

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