Clayton Kershaw has been placed on the 15-day injured list with a bone spur in his left big toe, while Joe Kelly has been sidelined with right shoulder inflammation.
Clayton Kershaw and Joe Kelly, two of the Los Angeles Dodgers' most experienced pitchers, have been placed on the injured list, dealing a blow to a team that has been struggling with injuries all season.
Kershaw, who left Friday's game against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the second inning, was diagnosed with a bone spur in his left big toe. Manager Dave Roberts said that the swelling was so severe that Kershaw could barely move around.
The injury is a setback for Kershaw, who has already missed significant time this season due to offseason shoulder surgery. He made his first start on July 25 and has since gone 2-2 with a 4.50 ERA in seven starts.
Kelly, meanwhile, is dealing with right shoulder inflammation. He pitched 1 2/3 innings on Friday and gave up two earned runs on three hits. The 13-year veteran is 1-1 with a 5.20 ERA in 31 games this year.
The Dodgers have called up RHP Ben Casparius from Triple-A Oklahoma City to replace Kershaw and selected the contract of RHP Brent Honeywell to replace Kelly. Honeywell was designated for assignment on Aug. 18 but has been recalled to provide depth in the bullpen.
The injuries to Kershaw and Kelly add to the Dodgers' already long list of injured players. The team has been without several key players, including Mookie Betts, Andrew Heaney, and Tony Gonsolin, in recent weeks.
Despite the injuries, the Dodgers remain in contention for the NL West division title. They are currently 69-44, two games behind the San Francisco Giants.
The Dodgers will hope to get Kershaw and Kelly back as soon as possible as they make a push for the playoffs. Kershaw is a key part of the Dodgers' rotation, and Kelly is a valuable member of the bullpen.
In the meantime, the Dodgers will have to rely on their depth to fill the void left by Kershaw and Kelly. The team has several talented young pitchers who are capable of stepping up and contributing.
The Dodgers will face the Arizona Diamondbacks in a four-game series this weekend. LHP Justin Wrobleski is expected to start Sunday's game for the Dodgers.
