OCTOBER 8: Kershaw told reporters he had a platelet-rich plasma injection in his ailing elbow yesterday (via Chelsea Janes of the Washington Post). That officially brings to an end any chance of his pitching this postseason, but Kershaw said he expects to be ready for Spring Training in 2022.
OCTOBER 5: Clayton Kershaw left his most recent regular season start on account of recurring forearm discomfort. The Dodgers star did not suffer any UCL damage and will not require surgery, manager Dave Roberts told reporters (including Jorge Castillo of the Los Angeles Times). Nevertheless, the three-time Cy Young award winner is not expected to return this postseason.
The news comes as something of a mixed bag. On the one hand, it certainly seemed ominous when Kershaw left his final start of the year with forearm discomfort, not long after returning from a two-plus month absence due to the same issue. It’s certainly a relief that in spite of that recurring problem, Kershaw won’t need to go under the knife.
That said, he’ll no doubt be disappointed he’s not able to return to help the Dodgers’ efforts to repeat as World Series winners. It’s possible Kershaw wouldn’t have pitched in the postseason even were he healthy. Max Scherzer was likely to get the ball in tomorrow evening’s Wild Card game anyhow, and the Dodgers’ title defense could end with that lone contest. But a lengthier playoff run would surely have seen a healthy Kershaw logging some important innings, and that’ll no longer be the case.
It’s also particularly unfortunate timing for Kershaw personally. The 33-year-old is slated to hit the open market this winter. When healthy, Kershaw has again been excellent. Over 121 2/3 innings, the former MVP worked to a 3.55 ERA while striking out a strong 29.5% of batters faced and issuing walks at just a 4.3% clip. Kershaw’s velocity has steadily ticked downwards in recent seasons, but he’s nevertheless been among the game’s most effective pitchers year in and year out. He was trending towards being one of the top starters available in free agency this offseason, but his recent health woes will throw a wrench in that evaluation for teams.
The Dodgers also provided an update on Max Muncy, who injured his elbow in a collision at first base during Sunday’s regular season finale. Muncy told reporters (including Juan Toribio of MLB.com) he suffered a dislocated elbow and some structural damage. Fortunately, he won’t require surgical repair. Roberts didn’t rule out the possibility of Muncy returning at some point this postseason (Toribio link).
This actually gives the dodgers a better chance. This guy shrinks in the biggest moments. Soft mentality pitcher. Still wishing him a speedy recovery and I feel bad for him
This development will certainly make his off-season more intriguing.
Prediction: he signs a heavily performance-based contract with the Dodgers for two years.
If he resigns, that will mean he won his wife over. She’s been really loud about being tired of having to pull their kids out school in Texas. She wants her family in Dallas year round.
Can you give me her number? I’d like to talk to her about that.
Kershaw to the Astros would be comedy.
I speak for every team when I say every team in the postseason is rooting for the Cards to beat the Dodgers.
yup, sure the whole world is rooting for the team with the most racist fans in baseball (just ask jason heyward). not to mention that arrogant ‘Cardinals way’ nonsense.
WTH are you yapping about?
You complaining about someone yapping? Priceless
The hell? Gtfo
Ah yes, the mass judgment of an entire fan base founded upon one statement by one player. The r word is so overused it is no longer relevant. But hey, it’s easier to namecall than actually think critically!
This must have something to do with a recent article about Jack Flahertys BLM views? That article was trash and doesn’t represent the people of STL. The rich fans of the Cardinals from the hills you see at the games on TV that only show up when the team is ‘winning’ are not the only Cardinals fans. Curt Flood played in STL, helped them win a few world seires, and wore the number 21, few remember that about the organization. 12 in ’21
Jason Hayward is one player? How did Ray Lankford feel about the organization? Or Ray King? Ronnie Belliard? Dexter Fowler, or any other person of color or race like Albert Pujols think about the Cardinals fans and the organization?
Curt Flood wrote about black players having their laundry taken to a black laundry because the white clubhouse men would not do it. That was the Cards in the ’60s.
I was not aware that there were hills in MO. But maybe I’m mixing up flyover states.
wow, i didnt know racism was only a thing in St. Louis#
imo boston and st. louis are particularly racist baseball towns
Of course they are.! Playoff teams want no part of the Dodgers in a 5 or 7 game series. Best shot to beat Dodgers : beat them in a 1 game playoff. Even a bad team can beat a very good team in any one given day….:-)
Hello darkness my old friend…
Do we have to hear from you again?
Narrow streets of cobblestone.
Kershaw other than one shorten season struggle
In playoffs. Sure we all wish he pitch but we have 4 good pitchers to rely on . So we will be fine.
Good news.
After 8 postseason runs Kershaw’s arm finally gave out on him. Good for him that he doesn’t need surgery but you have to wonder how this will impact his free agency
121.2 ip would give pause to anyone being expected to pay him crazy TOR $ off reputation…..except LAD that have the great TV deal.
Could just be a year where he never felt right. Verlander had one of those in Detroit. He’ll rebound next year. His postseason numbers are mixed. Bad early against the Cardinals which was surprising
It’s not. He would usually pitch very well, but be run out there to face the heart of the order a 3rd or 4th time, then get lit up. If la had a halfway decent bullpen from 13-16, this whole narrative doesn’t exist
I would love to run numbers on this. I can’t imagine that era of dodger bullpen was THAT much worse as now. Certainly the rest of the rotation was perhaps?
tstats if I recall he gave up six or seven runs in the fifth or sixth inning of a playoff game. I could be misremembering, if I am correct, that never happens with a good bullpen. Ever.
It’s nice to see a smart fan every once in a while
What a way to enter free agency
The update on Muncy deserved its own post.
But then commenters would call bias
How zat?
Curious to see what he signs for. He’s very likely returning to the Dodgers, but ego may complicate. He’ll be 34, clearly now well off his peak, more injury prone who now had a question about his elbow, yet a brand name on a brand team who is used to making between $31-35MM a year over the past seven years. Could he accept a 3/45?
Kershaw’s ego doesn’t seem very complicated, based on everything he has said and everything he has done. He wants to pitch for as long as he can contribute. So far both he and the Dodgers have made sure that happens in LA.
It’s gonna be awfully tough for Max Muncy to golf and fish with a dislocated elbow, but if he thinks he can do it, then all the more power to him!
Stay classy, my friend.
John Jaso I’ve read through these comments, and if you honestly think you are being the bigger person here, then you’re a fool. A childish fool, but a fool nonetheless.
I do not have religious beliefs, but I believe as long as you’re doing good, and using your principles to guide you rather than to dictate to others, that your religious beliefs don’t affect me.
“Platelet-rich plasma” is a concerning matter. I hope Kershaw can get back to 100%. Class act.
Many players have gotten those injections to stave off TJS. In most cases that’s exactly what happens, and they end up needing the surgery within a year. Kershaw has thrown a lot of curveballs in his day. By avoiding surgery he at least gives himself a chance at a contract this winter, but the buyers will be wary, and the term will be short.
Kershaw is HOF in my book on/off field.
And every ones book
Since he has an injury that typically requires TJS to fix, and he’s electing not to undergo surgery, it seems likely his career is at an end. What am I missing?
Kershaw is already a HOF lock, but he needs 15 wins for 200 and 330 strikeouts for 3000. Two seasons where he is healthy for 75 percent of year would get him to both. Hope he stays in LA rather than going to Rangers!
This is a bad decision by Kershaw. The Dodgers should insist on the surgery. Kershaw is in denial. He will break down again in ’22 without surgery to fix the problem.
Dodgers are paying Kershaw a lot of money to spend lots of time on the IL
There must be some way that a team forking over 30M per year to a player has more say in whether that player has surgery to fix injuries that could send that player to the IL for big chunks of the ’22 season.