Dodgers: Dave Roberts’ Corey Knebel update is a big exhale

Dodgers fans were dealt the worst type of March scare on Friday when reliever Corey Knebel was removed from one of the team’s final spring games with an injury.

So close to the finish line, yet so far, right?

Luckily, right on time, Dave Roberts arrived in the game’s aftermath to sooth fans’ jangling nerves.

Knebel was struck with a liner in the fifth inning off the bat of Mark Canha, turned it into an out at first, then promptly exited the game.

Of course, that was the careful way to handle the situation, and Roberts confirmed with reporters in the aftermath of LA’s blemish-filled 11-0 loss that Knebel’s departure was precautionary.

As of now, everything’s in place for Knebel to be available for Opening Day.

Dodgers’ Corey Knebel injury update is A-OK.

We’re relieved because a Dodger checked out alright, of course, but we’re doubly relieved because of how special Knebel’s been in his comeback camp thus far.

In seven outings — certainly more tuneup opportunities than most back-end relievers have gotten throughout the league this spring — Knebel has rebounded spectacularly from 2020, striking out eight with a 1.42 ERA.

Just because Knebel’s health appears to be intact doesn’t mean the Dodgers escaped Friday’s action without a single worry, though.

Add Clayton Kershaw to the Slow Starters Club ledger alongside Walker Buehler, because although spring stats aren’t the be all, end all, you’d still rather see Kershaw succeed than faceplant.

Kerhaw’s nine runs in 3.1 innings pitched were a powerful blemish — but we’ll remind you that the last time he was this bad in the spring was prior to the 2014 season, which went pretty well overall.

With only a few days left before the regular season, the modus operandi for all the Dodgers should be escaping their time in Arizona without any lingering injury issues.

Knebel (or, more accurately, Canha) gave us a scare Friday night in the desert, but luckily Dave Roberts was there with a bucket of water to put out the temporary fire.

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