NEW YORK — On the first day of the second half of the season, an already unsettled Dodgers starting rotation was handed another ominous development.
Clayton Kershaw will not be returning this week as initially expected, with the left-hander now expected to be sidelined until at least early August after being advised by the team's medical staff to give an unspecified shoulder injury more time to heal.
The news frustrated Kershaw, who said his shoulder feels "completely fine." He will continue to play catch and throw bullpen sessions this week.
"I've never had anything like it, to the point where, I'm gonna go play catch today and throw it as hard as I can, and they say it needs to rest," Kershaw said. "It's just weird, honestly. I don't know what to make of it. But I'm just gonna have to listen to them."
Kershaw got hurt during a start in Colorado on June 27, when he said his shoulder felt "cranky" near the end of a six-inning outing.
During that trip, he was given an ultrasound and a cortisone shot. He had hoped to make his final two scheduled starts of the season's first half.
However, on July 3, Kershaw was placed on the injured list with what the team term "shoulder soreness."
Before the break, he had an MRI that seemingly revealed a further issue, though Kershaw and manager Dave Roberts declined to reveal the specific nature of the 35-year-old's injury.
"I don't want to even say because I can't speak exactly about what it is," Roberts said. "I think Clayton is doing everything he can to adhere to the doctor's orders and when he's ready to pitch, he'll pitch. That's why it's hard to give that exact time period. It's just no one knows."
Asked if Kershaw returning in early August was more of a hope or expectation, Roberts answered "somewhere in-between."
Asked if the team had to protect Kershaw — who said he felt good enough to make a start even before the All-Star break — from himself, Roberts nodded.
"You don't become who he's become as a ballplayer without that feeling of, I can overcome some discomfort, adversity," Roberts said. "That's what makes him unique. But we're fortunate to be around some great doctors, and he's smart enough to really listen to them and their advice. But yeah, if Clayton had his own way, he'd be pitching tonight."
Before he got hurt, Kershaw had been the Dodgers' best pitcher.
In 16 starts, he was 10-4 with a 2.55 earned-run average. He was selected to his 10th career All-Star Game, though couldn't take part in the festivities in Seattle this week because of his injury.
He had provided crucial stability to the Dodgers rotation, as well, emerging again as their de facto ace while Julio Urías and Tony Gonsolin battled early-season injuries and inconsistencies, and Dustin May suffered a season-ending elbow injury.
Even with a healthy Kershaw, the Dodgers rotation in the first half ranked only 19th in ERA (4.55) and 25th in innings pitched (though, they had used openers in several games leading up to the break).
Because of that, a frontline starter had already looked like one of the team's trade deadline targets.
Could the uncertainty surrounding Kershaw magnify that need more?
"I do know our guys are, kind of like most teams, trying to see what's out there to figure out a way to better our ballclub," Roberts said. "It's hard to imagine any team doesn't think pitching is a need and I think we're in that same position."
Still, Kershaw's status will now become one of the biggest storylines to follow leading up to the Aug. 1 trade deadline — as any further setbacks could underline the Dodgers' rotation needs even more.
Kershaw did declare that "I know when I'm gonna be back," but acknowledged it's "just later than I thought."
Did he lobby the team to push up his return date?
"When the doctor tells you something — I'm really good at arguing — but I can't argue with that," he said, noting the advice came from renowned team physician Dr. Neal ElAttrache. "He's been around a long time and seen a lot of stuff. So obviously I trust his opinion. If there was ever a guy to go see, it would be him. That doesn't mean I believe it, but I do trust him. "
The Dodgers will have to, as well. Because if Kershaw isn't back at full strength for the stretch run, their already undermanned, underachieving pitching staff could have few options to replace him.
Jake Marisnick arrives; Chris Taylor activated
The Dodgers officially announced their signing of veteran center fielder Jake Marisnick on Friday, adding the 32-year-old to their outfield mix at the start of their three-game series against the New York Mets.
The team also activated infielder Chris Taylor off the injured list, after he missed most of the last month with a knee injury.
In corresponding moves, outfielder Jonny DeLuca was optioned to the minors, while reliever Shelby Miller was transferred to the 60-day injured list to make room for Marisnick on the Dodgers' 40-man roster.
Miller, who has been out since June 21 with a neck injury, is still expected to return this season, Roberts said, though the soonest he could now be activated is Aug. 21.
"I'm as surprised as everyone with Shelby going on the 60-day," Roberts said. "It just hasn't come along. The hope is that he'll be moving and doing stuff before that and we'll get him back. I think for me, I talked to Shelby recently by text and he's looking forward to coming back at some point this season."
