Dodgers News: Clayton Kershaw Will Leave Team, Not Expected to Miss Start

The Hall of Famer will step away to tend to family matters.

Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw will be taking some time off this week to attend the services for his mother who passed away last weekend. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts shared the plan for Kershaw, who will be placed on the bereavement list but is expected to return to the team before his next scheduled start on Saturday against the Rays in Tampa Bay.

He will leave the Dodgers for a few days to attend a service for her and be placed on the bereavement list. Dave Roberts said Kershaw is expected to rejoin the Dodgers in Tampa and make his next start on Saturday. - OC Register

Kershaw has struggled on the mound over his last 2 starts but he doesn't believe it's related to his loss.  

"I just haven't pitched very good. It's nothing specific. I just haven't been pitching very well. Frustrating, not a great time with guys going down. Obviously, you'd like to get some length. It's disappointing. You feel like you let the guys down, especially the bullpen. There's really nothing to say except pitch better next time."

Manager Roberts mentioned that Kershaw did express feeling some fatigue after his last start where he struggled to locate the strike zone, similar to his outing on Sunday.

“We were hoping that was just a one-time deal, and you feel that he would come back and reset in this one,” Roberts said. “But it showed a lot of similarities to that last one, as far as fatigue.

It seems likely that there are other factors affecting Kershaw's performance that he may not openly acknowledge.

"I think he’s done as good a job as you can do of compartmentalizing and trying to keep it out of mind," Roberts said. "There's no one that works harder or prepares himself more. So he probably doesn't want to admit it. But sometimes the emotional toll takes a toll on your body too. So I'm sure it plays some factor."

Hopefully, the time away from the game and the opportunity to say goodbye to his mother will help Kershaw find some relief from the burden he's carrying and give him a mental reset.