Los Angeles Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw was forced to exit Friday’s game early due to bone spurs, as confirmed by Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. Roberts informed the media on Friday night that Kershaw has been battling with the injury on and off for a couple of years.
The 10-time All-Star was taken out in the second inning of the Dodgers’ victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks, immediately following a solo home run surrendered to Arizona’s Corbin Carroll. Initially, the Dodgers attributed his departure to left big toe pain, but Roberts clarified post-game that Kershaw is dealing with a bone spur in his left foot.
“It’s definitely concerning. There’s swelling and pain,” Roberts expressed. “Some days it’s manageable and doesn’t affect his performance. Today was not one of those days.”
Roberts disclosed that Kershaw approached him after the first inning, complaining of discomfort in his toe and insisting that he would give his best effort, prompting Roberts to monitor him closely.
“He was clearly struggling physically today, which led to concerns about the impact on his arm. Unfortunately, there was no choice but to remove him in the second inning,” Roberts explained. “He was running on empty.”
Roberts mentioned that a stint on the injured list (IL) is a possibility, according to The Athletic’s Fabian Ardaya.
Speaking to reporters post-game, Kershaw admitted that he was unable to “push off” due to the injury, but he and the team will reassess the situation on Saturday.
“It’s frustrating when everything else feels fine, yet I can’t find a comfortable way to generate power from my toe,” Kershaw shared.
As a consequence of Kershaw’s injury, Roberts had to utilize pitchers they hadn’t planned on using that night, impacting their bullpen strategy for future games. Consequently, the Dodgers will be calling up a pitcher — likely from their minor league affiliates — to handle most of the innings on Saturday as they continue the series against the Diamondbacks.
Despite a late four-run rally from the Diamondbacks in the ninth inning, the Dodgers emerged victorious with a 10-9 scoreline. Los Angeles currently boasts an 81-54 record and is in prime position to clinch the NL West title, although the absence of one of their top pitchers could pose a challenge.