Dodgers News: Clayton Kershaw Seems Unlikely to Start on Monday, IL Stint Very Possible

Clayton Kershaw was seen throwing on Saturday in Kansas City for the first time since leaving his last start against the Colorado Rockies with a shoulder injury.

Kershaw, who received an injection in his shoulder on Thursday, was hoping to make his next scheduled start, but made it clear that he was going to be smart with this minor issue.

On Saturday, he provided another update, and still wasn’t sure what the plan was going to be.

“It went fine,” Kershaw said about his throwing session. “Still no decision yet but good progress. Still kind of on the wait-and-see.”

#Dodgers Clayton Kershaw playing catch today pic.twitter.com/7h56iM48Vk

— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) July 1, 2023

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts chimed in with an update, too, saying the session went “just OK,” and that the team would make a decision on Sunday about him pitching in his Monday start, or going on the injured list. Mike DiGiovanna of the LA Times made it sound like the injured list is the more likely scenario.

#Dodgers MGR Dave Roberts said LHP Clayton Kershaw's throwing session was "just OK." Team will decide Sunday if Kershaw will start Monday, but it doesn't sound promising. If Kershaw is ruled out for Monday he will probably go on the IL with Michael Grove likely getting the start.

— Mike DiGiovanna (@MikeDiGiovanna) July 1, 2023

It wouldn’t be the end of the world for Kershaw to hit the injured list, as he wouldn’t miss much time with the All-Star break coming in less than two weeks.

If a quick IL stint meant Kershaw was fully healthy for the second half of the season, that may be the way to go.

Kershaw has already thrown 95.1 innings this season, after throwing just 126.1 all of last year. He’s on pace to shatter that mark, so it wouldn’t be the worst thing to get a mini two-week break and come back fully charged after the All-Star break.

We’ll see what the Dodgers ultimately decide to do, but a trip on the IL feels like the most likely scenario right now. If Kershaw does miss a start, it would be his first missed start of the year, and it would mean that every Dodgers pitcher in the Opening Day starting rotation has missed time due to injury.

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