Dodgers News: Roberts Sees the Silver Lining of Clayton Kershaw's Injury

Will the midseason break be a good thing for Kersh?

Before his left shoulder gave him trouble at Coors Field on June 27th, Clayton Kershaw was on pace to pitch more innings than any time since 2019. At 35, there's no knowing if Kershaw's body would hold up for 200 innings anymore.

Spending more than a month on the IL displeases Kershaw since he wants to take the ball every fifth day, but it is a blessing in disguise. And that's the way Dodgers manager Dave Roberts sees it, as he told reporters including Stefan Stevenson on the OC Register.

“If he gets back and throws the way that we expect, it’s going to be a great break and it’ll be much needed,” Roberts said. “It’ll kind of be that reset to get him through October, so I think that’s why right now we’re just trying to be super cautious and do as much to sustaining health the rest of the way as he possibly can.”

Kershaw threw a 40 pitch bullpen session on Friday at Globe Life Field. Roberts said Clayton would next face hitters in a "live simulated, three-inning situation" on Monday before the team assesses the next step beyond that.

A minor league rehab assignment won't be needed for Kershaw but he may need to endure one more mound situation against hitters before he's activated off the 15-day IL.

“For me, I think for all of us, it’s either going to be two sim games and kind of add another inning after that sim game, then he’s activated,” Roberts said.

Even with the time of the IL, Kershaw is in the running for his fourth National League Cy Young Award with 10 wins and 4 losses with a 2.55 ERA.