PHOENIX — Clayton Kershaw may pitch again for the Los Angeles Dodgers this season, however, at 36, his career as a top-tier left-handed pitcher is undeniably approaching its conclusion.
Kershaw exited the mound in the second inning of Friday night’s game after Corbin Carroll of the Arizona Diamondbacks smacked a significant home run down the right field line on a 67 mph curveball. The most recent injury he suffered was a bone spur on his left big toe, causing such intense pain that he couldn’t effectively push off the pitching rubber with that foot.
In his seven starts since returning this season from left shoulder surgery, there have been two occasions where he did not manage to strike out a batter, putting him 32 strikeouts shy of reaching the coveted 3,000 mark. During the game, Kershaw threw 27 pitches, with D-backs hitters only managing to miss two of them.
Kershaw was placed once again on the 15-day injured list on Saturday when the swelling and soreness failed to subside overnight, potentially ruling him out for the remainder of the season as his current $5 million contract nears its expiration.
“It’s obviously a concerning situation,” a very somber Dodgers manager Dave Roberts expressed after utilizing seven relievers over the last eight innings just to secure a 10-9 victory at Chase Field. “There’s noticeable swelling. The pain is evident. He’s giving his all to overcome it.”
Roberts further stated that Kershaw was left with “no energy, no drive” and that there was “no other option but to remove him after that at-bat against Carroll.”
It’s a disheartening scenario for a pitcher with 212 wins, 2,968 strikeouts, and a 2.50 ERA. Kershaw previously averaged 9.7 strikeouts per nine innings over 17 seasons, featuring an assortment of pitches, including a dynamic fastball. However, during Friday’s match, he barely touched 90 mph, hitting Jake McCarthy with a fastball clocked at 90 during the opening frame. Yet, the passage of time remains undefeated against all athletes. “He has accumulated a significant amount of wear and tear,” Roberts remarked.
Nevertheless, five years following the closure of his career, he will have this to anticipate: “He’s assuredly a first-ballot Hall of Famer,” Freddie Freeman, his teammate, remarked.
Simultaneously, Roberts already has Kershaw’s successor for next season in his current roster: Shohei Ohtani. The southpaw batter set a new MLB record during Friday’s game by hitting his 43rd home run and stealing his 43rd base, becoming the first player to achieve this feat in a single season. While Ohtani, 30, has been dominating the league as a designated hitter, he has been recovering from his right arm injury after undergoing a second reconstructive surgery on that elbow last year and is planning to return to pitching in the upcoming season.
“His development is positive,” Roberts commented on Ohtani. “His progress is steady. He has resumed pitching. He continues to strengthen his foundation, gearing up for the spring training period. There’s no question he’ll resume his dual role next year.”
Ohtani declined to offer any comments post-game, yet he has remained a consistent force for the Dodgers as they seek their 11th National League West title in the past 12 years and fourth consecutive title. They currently hold a five-game lead over the D-backs and the San Diego Padres.
While a majority of the team’s key players have encountered injuries, Ohtani is approaching a new career-high number of plate appearances. He leads the NL in runs scored, home runs, slugging percentage, OPS, and OPS+, positioning himself for what appears to be his third regular-season MVP award and first in the NL. He clinched the MVP title last year in the American League, his final season playing for the Los Angeles Angels.
From both a marketing and baseball perspective, he has proven to be a lucrative investment since the Dodgers sealed a monumental 10-year, $700 million contract with him this past offseason.
On a Wednesday evening at Dodger Stadium, the Dodgers distributed 40,000 bobbleheads of Ohtani holding his pet dog, Decoy, with numerous fans queuing for hours to obtain one.
The highlight was Ohtani and Decoy jointly throwing the ceremonial first pitch. Ohtani handed the ball to the dog while standing on the mound. The dog then transported the ball to Ohtani, who had walked over to the home plate. Subsequently, Ohtani hit his 42nd home run and stole two additional bases.
The Dodgers have established multiple marketing collaborations with Japanese companies following Ohtani and fellow Japanese pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto inking substantial free agent contracts totaling $1.025 billion. Unfortunately, Yamamoto has been sidelined since June 15 due to a nagging right shoulder injury, being one of eight pitchers on the injury list.
Key players such as Freeman, Mookie Betts, Chris Taylor, and Max Muncy have all endured substantial periods off the field due to various injuries. Presently, Freeman is powering through a hairline fracture in his right middle finger.
“He’s excelling in the DH role without pitching, which theoretically should reduce his workload. Nevertheless, having him step into the batter’s box four or five times a night significantly boosts our chances of victory,” Roberts affirmed.
This then leads us back to Kershaw, who returned on July 25 and has merely pitched 30 innings this season. His inclusion in the postseason roster is currently under serious doubt.
Roberts acknowledged that he cannot risk starting him in another game following similar outcomes to Friday night’s performance, as it would have adverse implications on the bullpen.
“It’s incredibly frustrating,” Kershaw expressed. “My poor performance left the team in a difficult situation, with the bullpen having to take charge for eight innings. They did a remarkable job, but I’m disheartened to have been the cause of it.”
This story has been updated in the fourth paragraph with Clayton Kershaw being placed back on the 15-day injured list on Saturday.
Image Source: Los Angeles Dodgers @ Instagram
