Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw left Friday’s game early because of bone spurs, according to Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. Roberts told reporters Friday night that Kershaw has been dealing with the injury “off and on” for a couple of years.
The 10-time All-Star was pulled in the second inning of the Dodgers’ win over the Arizona Diamondbacks, immediately after giving up a solo home run to Arizona’s Corbin Carroll. The Dodgers originally said it was due to a sore left big toe, but Roberts clarified after the game that Kershaw has a bone spur in his left foot.
“Obviously it’s not good. There’s swelling, there’s pain,” Roberts said. “Some starts I feel fine and it doesn’t stop me from doing anything. Today it certainly stopped me from doing anything.”
Roberts said Kershaw approached him after the first inning and told him his toe was bothering him and that he was “going to give us what he had,” prompting Roberts to keep a close eye on him.
“Obviously, he didn’t have his legs today and then you start to worry about how his arm might affect him, so there was no other option but to take him out in that second inning,” Roberts said. “He just didn’t have anything left.”
Roberts said a stint on the IL is possible, according to The Athletic. Fabian Ardaya.
Kershaw told reporters after the game that he couldn’t “push” as a result of the injury, but that he and the team would re-evaluate the situation on Saturday.
“It’s frustrating when everything else seems to be going well, but no matter what I did, I couldn’t find a comfortable way to push off my toes,” Kershaw said.
Roberts said that as a result of Kershaw’s injury, they had to play some pitchers they weren’t planning on using that night, which affected their pitch count and how they can be used in future games. Now, the Dodgers will bring in a pitcher, likely from one of their affiliates, to pitch the majority of the innings tonight as the series against the Diamondbacks continues.
The Dodgers went on to beat the Diamondbacks 10-9, despite a four-run ninth-inning Arizona rally. Los Angeles has an 81-54 record and is in excellent position to win the NL West, but losing one of its top pitchers could complicate that lead.
