Roberts: Kershaw with no return date; will take ‘breather’

The Los Angeles Dodgers began the second half of their season on Friday with lingering uncertainty about the status of the longtime ace. Clayton kershaw, who is on the disabled list with swelling in his left forearm.

Kershaw has been working, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said, but it is not yet known when he will resume pitching and begin preparing to return to the rotation. Kershaw, who has a 3.39 ERA with 127 strikeouts and 19 walks in 106/3 1/3 innings this season, last pitched on July 3 and underwent an MRI less than a week later that revealed only inflammation. in the area of ​​your pitching elbow.

“We are going to take this moment to give him a break,” Roberts said. “This is something that, with the pain and then taking time here to rebuild for the sprint, I think makes sense, and Clayton agrees with that.”

The Dodgers, two games behind the San Francisco Giants Leaders of the National League West, they entered the season with plenty of depth with starting pitchers, but entered the All-Star break with serious doubts about their rotation.

With Kershaw in IL, Dustin May opting for the season-ending Tommy John surgery and Trevor bauer On administrative leave until at least July 27 while facing sexual assault charges, the Dodgers have four healthy starters. One of those four, David price, just moved to open after spending the first three months or more of the season in the bullpen.

Josiah Gray, the Dodgers’ top prospect, is among the inside options the Dodgers are considering for the vacant spot in the rotation, Roberts said. The 23-year-old Gray dealt with a shoulder injury earlier this year but has pitched six scoreless innings in two outings since his return to Triple-A with Oklahoma City.

Roberts indicated that Kershaw’s rehabilitation process is based primarily on pragmatism.

“That’s something that once it happened, it made sense to take the time to cut part of the season and save some bullets for the rest of the season and throughout the postseason,” Roberts said. “We feel good about it. I’m not sure when he will play ball again, but I feel good about the process.”

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