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
The view from three time zones away.
I really liked him in that spot, I really did -Dave roberts
“thumbs down” on this post
It would be fun if mlbtr showed us who has been muted the most. I wonder how much of a lead you have on #2
Two most ignored? Tatasumaki and MetsPhan22?
I mostly use the app which doesn’t have ignore function :/
But the entertainment factor
I don’t know if you venture on over to hoopsrumors, but MartyMcRae is a top contender.
I recall that handle having some pretty ridiculous posts on the baseball site as well. But tstats has pretty good approach…..”laugh at” rather than a response or a counterpoint. The trolls need attention and a response.
Eric Davis would be the first one I muted if the option was available on the app
I’m pretty sure I discovered how to mute on here because of Marty McRae.
This also gives the Dodgers built in excuses because of injuries. They can recycle them from Mets fan.
Dodgers don’ make excuses.
Steve, please tell me this is sarcasm.
This is not excuse because Kershaw would make them worst lol. If this happen in the regular season it would be.
It’s amazing how much time you spend “talking baseball” here and yet, you’re still so ignorant. It’s almost impressive
Ignorance is bliss. He’s the happiest guy here.
Yea his 2.93 era and 2.96 FIP last year in the playoffs really was a detriment to the team
When he played in an empty Home Depot warehouse.
NLCS and World Series had fans
Bunch of Astro fans
@despicable_you
You’re wrong but the Home Depot warehouse thing is hilarious lmao.
2 of the 3 actual series had fans so… failure
Oh despicable wants to be entered into the contest for billage idiot, as well. Let it be so.
Village. Sorry I was in a hurry to call him an idiot.
Hilarious, when you posted “billage Idiot”, I figured it had to do with boats or an inability to pay their bills. Fun with typos
To be fair, include ALL his postseason stats and see what it is..
Including Kershaw’s 2nd appearance in’17 WS? He shut the Astericks down at home earlier in the Series, but when they used the illegal sign sign stealing and buzzers in Houston, Kershaw didn’t do well.
He’s had some unimpressive outings earlier in his career, but fared far better when he wasn’t facing the cheating element that was definitely going on in Houston and “maybe” Boston. Of course, the latter wasn’t corroborated for playoff games.
*Asterisks*
All games against the Cards it seems they have had his postseason number
Why does 22 year old kershaw impact 32 year old kershaw? Other than to let haters grasp at straws?
True I agree with that sentiment. It’s just something about the Cardinal Devil Magic. 22 Kersh is different than now Kersh. But 22 Kersh was better…
Kershaw suffered somewhat from being directly compared to his contemporary Madison Bumgarner from the first half of the decade. Kershaw being head and shoulders above Bum every regular season was forgotten as another lefty west coast starter forged a legendary playoff resume. Kershaw blew some spots that were more visible perhaps than many other all time greats, but it’s not like every hall of fame pitcher was lights out in the postseason.
As a Giants fan I wish kershaw a full recovery and I hope he signs back with the bad guys for another few years. We’ve all been lucky to face off against him so many times year in and year out
Buzzers. Goodness, you children are pathetic.
@BeforeMcCourt it’s easy to use the season with the * to make that point but what about his other postseasons? Dude is soft as a grape when the lights come on. To be honest I’m surprised he made it as far into the season as he did he usually takes a seat much sooner. He’s got that bad back and all.
You’re so full of it. Every playoff team would rather have kershaw as their number 4 than their current guy. Every. Single. Team.
Pretending you don’t want him because his manager ran him into the ground and beyond 7 years ago is pathetic. He was a lock for the HOF before he was 30. Stop fronting you look like an idiot
Postseason stats just aren’t very illustrative. They are all small sample stats. Trying to make a point from them is just baseball ignorant. As a Giants fan I would take Kershaw every year going into the playoffs, including this year, if he were healthy. I see signs of decline now that he’s 33, but no matter what his PS stats say, he was absolutely the best pitcher in baseball for nearly a decade.
Thanks for being a real baseball fan. Not many of us left anymore.
And anyone who thinks Kershaw is “soft” never saw a manager try to take the ball out his hand in the eighth inning after throwing 110 pitches. This player is the ultimate competitor and teammate. He’ll keep pitching for as long as he can contribute to his team, and no further.
It’s just a dumb argument because it’s been statistically proven that postseason stats will balance out to a players regular season norms if given enough time for SSS to no longer apply. There’s just so few playoff games, and most guys don’t get to make deep runs every year, that the only time you get enough at bats/innings for this to materialize is someone like Jeter
22 year old CK obviously had better stuff. But 32 year old CK is a damn good pitcher still
Excellent retort!
And still perfectly capable of throwing a gem on any given start. Gonsolin is pretty good it I know I feel more confident with the Giants potentially facing him in game 3, than kershaw
I loathe the Dodgers, and have for my entire life. But I respect the hell out of Clayton Kershaw. He’s a great man on and off the field. And baseball is more fun when he’s on the field, regardless if he actually helps LA.
I still wish the Dodgers lose tonight, but I wish that Clayton Kershaw were healthy and able to be a part of that loss.
I also wish him nothing but the best. Seriously. He’s an excellent guy.
All MetsFan22 can do right now is count the days until his beloved Mets break his heart yet again. Don’t worry I smell the jealously because a high acquisition player (Mookie) helped them win the title, while your best “player” was enabling his BFF to do thumbs down.
Remind me: How many years has it been since DeGrom pitched meaningful baseball in October?
The same fans that complain starters should be left in longer are the same people who think Kershaw is a choker. The guy tried to bail out a crappy bullpen for years in the playoffs. How many times did Kershaw allow runs in the 876 innings when nowadays the starter wouldn’t be allowed to pitch against the lineup a 3rd or 4th time.
Tying run on 3rd no outs in game 5 of the 2020 World Series and he got out of it. Didn’t buckle when Margot broke for home. You wouldn’t know biggest moments as a Mets fan.
I don’t think margot was out in a full stadium… the ability that Muncy had to cleanly tell to Kersh was HUGE. Maybe I’m wrong though, it was close enough that the lack of fans may have been key.
I rarely agree with Metsfan22 but he is spot on with this. Now if Jansen could get hurt the Dodgers would be favorites.
IF he did shrink in the biggest moments — he’d be excellent as a Met. No pressure, your falls are off to enjoy apple-picking in the Catskills and leaves changing, fans making every excuse, while your micromanager owner continues writing the checks. after Twitter tirades.
Who wouldn’t want to pitch for the Metropolitans?
If only George M. Steinbrenner were around for Twitter!
Yes,, but last year in the post season he was 4-1 with something around 2.31 for an era in the WS.. So, you can always say what have you done for me lately. No losing Kershaw will hurt this post season.
yourcommentlol2
How about them Mets! I hope they are sitting comfy watching the postseason from their couches at home.
Really, MF22? How can you say that but consider Noah Syndergaard some kind of loss? That guy is an idiot. He literally went into the 2019 season saying he was going to “throw as hard as possible on every single pitch” all season long. No wonder he got injured. His brain is so bad that even with his nasty stuff his ERA has been over 4.00 for a full season. How much did losing Syndergaard help the Mets get a better chance if losing an actual future hall of famer like Kershaw gives the Dodgers a better chance? You were counting your loss of Thor as a negative thing for the Mets and saying the Mets had “Missed WAR” because of it. Now the Dodgers losing an actually good pitcher who also pitches intelligently (unlike Syndergaard) is good for the Dodgers?
Just like of the Mets had Degrom they would have won the division and would be winning the world series? Lol, Dodgers won the world series with Kershaw last year, not without him
**
2.31 era and 2 wins in 2020 World Series.
**
Met 22: still an idiot I see.
Yeah lots of guys shrink when the other team knows what pitches are coming.
Kershaw is 13-12 in post-season, Seaver is 3-3 in post-season, Kershaw will join Tom Terrific in HOF. My favorite three Dodgers for past 50 years: (1) Fernando Valenzuela, (2) Clayton Kershaw, and (3) Vin Scully, not necessarily in that order.
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.