Dodgers News: Clayton Kershaw Heads to IL; LA Announces Multiple Roster Moves

Wholesale roster moves for the Dodger pitching staff.

The Dodgers kicked the can down the road as long as they could but, 2023 All-Star Clayton Kershaw has been placed on the 15-day injured list with left shoulder discomfort. The move comes along with a series of roster moves as the team returns home to welcome the Pittsburgh Pirates for four games.

In addition to Kershaw hitting the IL, LHP Victor Gonzalez has been optioned to Triple-A and rookies Michael Grove and Gavin Stone have been called up.

Dodgers have finally announced their pitching moves:

Clayton Kershaw is going on the IL with shoulder soreness. Michael Grove and Gavin Stone have been called up. Victor González was optioned

— Jack Harris (@ByJackHarris) July 3, 2023

First, for Kershaw, it's a massive disappointment. He told reporters he hoped to be able to make a start at some point this week, but after back to back short starts from Julio Urias and Tony Gonsolin over the weekend, the club needed some help on the pitching staff.

“I think we just felt that he wasn’t going to be able to pitch today,” manager Dave Roberts said on Monday. “And so, to give it a definitive reset and then get him back for the second half was probably the best decision.”

Kershaw is expected to be back shortly after the all star break.

The somewhat surprising move from all of this is Gonzalez being sent back down to the minor leagues. After spending all of 2022 and parts of 2021 back at AAA, the left-hander made his triumphant return to the big leagues late in April this year. He didn't allow an earned run over his first 10 appearances but has an ERA over 10 in 15 games since then.

Grove is back again after being optioned to AAA last week but never pitching there. Stone returns for the first time since the end of May and is back purely because the Dodgers need a healthy arm available in the bullpen. Since going back to AAA, he's allowed 24 runs over 18 innings (12.00 ERA).