Clayton Kershaw, the Los Angeles Dodgers ace who was putting together his finest season in years, was placed on the 15-day injured list Monday due to a sore shoulder, which will knock him out of the July 11 All-Star Game.
Kershaw, selected to his 10th All-Star team, was a prime candidate to start the game for the National League, but the Dodgers, after putting off the decision as long as possible, placed him on the IL on Monday before his scheduled start. Rookie Michael Grove started in his place.
Kershaw threw in the outfield over the weekend and the Dodgers seemed to accommodate his desire to avoid an IL stint and try to make his Monday start. But Kershaw, by going on the IL now, would be eligible to start any of the Dodgers’ three games against the New York Mets coming out of the All-Star break.
Of course, that would presume that simply rest would cure Kershaw’s shoulder woes. He was putting together one of his finest seasons in at least four years, with a 10-4 record, 2.55 ERA and 105 strikeouts in 95 1/3 innings. Kershaw finished third behind Arizona’s Zac Gallen and the Chicago Cubs’ Marcus Stroman in player voting for the All-Star Game.
Now, a replacement pitcher will be added to take Kershaw’s place. Both starting pitchers for the 2022 All-Star Game ― Kershaw and Tampa Bay’s Shane McClanahan ― are now on the IL after each was a strong candidate to start the game again. McClanahan, whose injury replacement has not been announced, has a back injury.
Kershaw, 35, was on pace to make at least 30 starts in a season for the first time since 2015, one year before a back injury curtailed him. He made 22 starts each of the past two seasons, with back and elbow woes among the ailments sidelining him.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Clayton Kershaw placed on IL, Dodgers ace to miss MLB All-Star Game