Dodgers' left-handed ace, Clayton Kershaw, has encountered another hurdle on his pathway to recovery following his shoulder surgery. After undergoing a procedure to repair the glenohumeral ligaments and capsule in his left shoulder last November, Kershaw has already made one rehabilitation start. However, he has now been sidelined once more due to "lingering soreness."
The unexpected setback came after an MRI revealed no new issues, which is somewhat reassuring for the Dodgers. In his first rehab outing, Kershaw managed to pitch three innings and throw 36 pitches, a small but significant step forward in his recovery process. Unfortunately, this recent development means he will not be throwing for at least another week before attempting to ramp back up.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts acknowledged the situation with guarded optimism. "This is part of the process as far as anyone that goes through rehab, that goes through a surgery, and is on his way back," Roberts explained. "It's not surprising. It's not perfect, but it's not surprising in the fact that there is a little bit of a regression in the throwing process."
Challenges Ahead
For Kershaw to rejoin the Dodgers' big-league roster, he needs to demonstrate his ability to pitch at least five innings and throw around 75 pitches. This benchmark is crucial for the team to consider activating him. Currently, the most optimistic projections suggest Kershaw could return sometime in August, depending on how his recovery progresses.
The Dodgers' pitching staff has been plagued by injuries this season, further compounding the significance of Kershaw's recovery journey. Walker Buehler, another key pitcher, started the season on the injured list, while Bobby Miller recently endured a lengthy stint on the list as well. Adding to the woes, Dustin May, Tony Gonsolin, and Yoshinobu Yamamoto have all spent substantial time on the injured list.
Dodgers' Resilience
Despite these setbacks, the Dodgers have demonstrated remarkable resilience. As of Monday, the team holds an impressive 48-31 record and maintains an 8.5-game lead in the NL West. This strong performance underscores the depth and talent present in the roster, even as they navigate a season riddled with injuries.
Kershaw’s potential return in August could provide a significant boost to the Dodgers as they aim to solidify their standing and make a deep postseason run. For now, the fans and the team alike will have to remain patient and hopeful as the left-handed pitcher continues his recovery journey amidst the challenges that come with it.