Dodgers: Clayton Kershaw’s Injury and Some Silver Linings

We all got some unfortunate news today when we found out that Clayton Kershaw would be missing 4-6 weeks with his lower back issue. Yes, it will suck to be without the best pitcher on the planet for any extended amount of time, but this could be a blessing in disguise. 

First, let me start by addressing the obvious: you can’t replicate Clayton Kershaw. No matter what the Dodgers do from here on out, they simply won’t be as good without their ace.

Now, let’s get to some silver linings.

As much as we love #Kershawday, it only comes up once every five days. While it may seem like a foregone conclusion that the Dodgers will win every 5^th day, it minimizes the impact that Kershaw brings to the team.

Don’t get me wrong. When you have a generational talent like Kershaw, he affects the team and makes you better, but the blow is not as bad as that of a position player.

It is a great luxury to have someone like Kershaw when the opponent throws their best pitcher at you. Alex Wood has been arguably a top-three pitcher in the NL and Rich Hill has looked very close to elite lately, so the team still has some frontline options to pick up the slack, unlike last year.

Who knows, maybe someone not currently in a Dodgers uniform will soon hold down the front of the rotation.

There are pitchers to be had on the trade market, but they will come with a price. I think the Kershaw injury puts the Dodgers on alert as the non-waiver trade deadline approaches.

As my colleague Michael wrote about recently, Yu Darvish is an option for the team and would slide into that ace role for the time being. There are also other options such as Sonny Gray and Justin Verlander who are less appealing to me for multiple reasons.

Maybe they don’t go the starter route but instead, choose to make a super bullpen with an acquisition of Zach Britton or Brad Hand. Whatever the case may be, the injury news gives the Dodgers a real sense of urgency, and we should expect a trade from Friedman any day now.

And while it may suck to lose your ace for any amount of time, giving his body an extended period of healing up and resting can only do good.

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Right now, the Dodgers have a 10.5 game lead over the Diamondbacks in the NL West and, barring anything catastrophic, will be division winners once again. As of the most recent news, it looks like Kershaw’s timetable to return will be around early September, which leaves us plenty of time to focus on the real goal, October.

In the past, we have seen what a 162 game season can do even to the best of teams. Kershaw getting some time off may be what he needs to be fresh and prepared for the playoffs. If he comes back in early September, he will get more than enough warm up starts to get everything going for October.

While it may be hard for the Dodgers to be as dominant without Clayton Kershaw, they will be okay. The Astros lost Carlos Correa, and no one said a word, so you shouldn’t be concerned with Kershaw gone.

Also, remember last year the Dodgers excelled without their ace, going 38-24. They were eight games back in the division at the time he went down and were five up in his return. So, it’s not like they haven’t had to do this before. Plus, this year’s team is undoubtedly better, so the team as a whole is better prepared to deal with such a catastrophic loss.

Next: Injuries May Force Hand

The Dodgers are having a historic season and are probably going to have a lot of fun in these next two months of the season. Ace pitcher or not, the Dodgers are arguably the best team in baseball, and I trust that they will remain in that spot until it’s time for their best player to come back.