The Dodgers have decided to push the next start of veteran ace Clayton Kershaw to Friday, as noted by Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register. Kershaw was originally slated to start tomorrow’s game against the Padres. Manager Dave Roberts told reporters that the decision to move Kershaw’s start wasn’t prompted by a physical issue, saying that the main goal in pushing his start back is lining up the rotation for the postseason.
As Plunkett notes, however, Kershaw’s workload has been carefully monitored by the Dodgers ever since he returned from a six-week sojourn on the injured list due to shoulder issues. Kershaw has not pitched beyond the fifth inning since returning and has eclipsed 80 pitches in a start just once. Plunkett also spoke with pitching coach Mark Prior regarding Kershaw’s dip in velocity since returning, with Prior calling the drop below 90 mph on Kershaw’s fastball “surprising,” though he added that Kershaw maintains that his shoulder feels fine.
If there’s any concerns regarding Kershaw’s ability to start playoff games deep into the postseason, it certainly makes sense for the Dodgers to manage his workload carefully down the stretch. The club has a massive 13 game lead in the NL West, essentially guaranteeing them a division title, while the Playoff Odds at Fangraphs give LA a whopping 99.8% chance to clinch a bye in the Wild Card round, allowing them to move directly into the NLDS. With regular season games rapidly waning in importance for the Dodgers and a rotation featuring Kershaw, Lance Lynn (6.09 ERA in 28 starts) and a trio of rookies led by Bobby Miller (3.98 ERA in 18 starts), it’s a no-brainer for the Dodgers to take as few risks with their 35-year-old ace’s arm as possible.
More from the National League…
- Cubs infielder Jeimer Candelario exited today’s game against the Diamondbacks due to back tightness, as manager David Ross told reporters (including Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune) this evening, and will be re-evaluated tomorrow. Candelario has had a big rebound season since being non-tendered by the Tigers last winter, as the switch-hitter has slashed .254/.339/.475 in 553 trips to the plate split between the Nationals and Cubs this season. He’s cooled off a bit recently, slashing just .161/.257/.356 in his last 101 trips to the plate, but that month long cold stretch doesn’t change the fact that Candelario is a key piece of Chicago’s lineup alongside the likes of Cody Bellinger and Seiya Suzuki as they look to return to the playoffs in a full season for the first time since 2018. Should Candelario miss time with the injury, the club figures to rely on Nick Madrigal and Patrick Wisdom at third base.
- Giants outfielder Austin Slater has been out of the lineup in recent days due to illness, with Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle noting that the 30 year old visited a specialist recently and received vertigo medicine, which has helped to alleviate the dizziness and balance issues he had been struggling with. It’s been a bit of a down year for Slater, as he’s hit just .248/.328/.379 as he’s shifted to more of a part time role with San Francisco. Luis Matos has acted as the club’s primary center fielder in Slater’s absence.
- Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez left today’s game against the Twins in the seventh inning after being struck in the hand by a pitch during the fifth inning. Fortuantely, Mike Puma of the New York Post noted that Alvarez underwent x-rays on his hand that came back negative, indicating the 21-year-old rookie avoided a serious injury. Alvarez took over as the club’s primary catcher following an early-season injury to veteran backstop Omar Narvaez and has performed solidly in the role, hitting .212/.288/.434 in 107 games. That stat line is good for a wRC+ of 98, ahead of quality regulars behind the plate like Alejandro Kirk, Yan Gomes, and Tyler Stephenson.
I’m thinking Slater won’t be signed next year with SFG. Too many younger options looking ready.
Wrong side of 30 is coming on fast for him. Good player but never really made it as an everyday guy.
He’s a good player and I think his trick is he hits lefties. Hadn’t really gotten a huge shot at everyday playing time, between injuries and platooning. But I’d rather have Slater than Bryce Johnson or mostly over what Ramos has done in the bigs, Meckler could give him a run for his money.Not very flashy player but with his tools he has value.
Matos takes his job.
But in my off season scenario pederson is the overpriced outfielder to lose his job.
Agree with that,except him being called an outfielder.
Wilmer should be the primary DH.
Vertigo and dizziness are both long COVID symptoms.
FYI: Nick Madrigal (20) has started more games for the Cubs at 3B than Jeimer Candelario (17) since the latter was acquired from the Nationals on July 31st. Madrigal’s time at the hot corner has actually increased over the past couple of weeks with Candelario slumping at the plate. Since the trade, Candelario has started as many games at 1B (14) and DH (3) as he has at 3B.
Yep. It’s going to be Bellinger at 1B now and PCA and Tauchman in CF.
Madrigal makes it look really awkward at 3B, but he is finding a way to get it done.
It’s remarkable that Nick Madrigal has posted positive defensive metrics at 3B considering he had never played an inning at the hot corner in college or as a professional prior to this season. The same cannot be said for Jeimer Candelario, Patrick Wisdom or Christopher Morel who all had experience at 3B in their careers.
Kershaw is essentially skipping a start, walked five batters in his last outing, and was throwing 87 mph. But he’s not hurt? Riiiiiiiight.
Alvarez has the enthusiasm and the hunger to learn his trade. That said, he has hit a slump at the plate and probably needs more time off with Narvaez available to catch more. He is only 21 and this year isn’t a bad start.
He doesn’t have much protection in the lineup right now with the rest of the kids
Batting around him ( Baty, Vientos and Mauricio) in the lineup. He has seemed a little anxious at the plate the last 4-6 weeks, but hey, he’s still 21..
Can this site please not promote the “Kershaw to Rangers” narrative this offseason?
Why do people keep mentioning Stanton!?!? Boo hoo hoo…I get upset that, when Jeter was with the Marlins, he gifted Stanton to the Yankees. It’s just not fair! How could Jeter have been allowed to gift Stanton to his former team to make them better!?!?
WHYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!
How could Jeter have done this when he was supposed to make the Marlins better – not trade Stanton away!
OH THE PAIN!
Why are you mentioning Stanton?
Because someone mentioned him. It looks like it was edited out or deleted.