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Dodgers deliver bleak Clayton Kershaw, Joe Kelly injury updates with NLDS roster drop

Adam Weinrib
Adam Weinrib

Dodgers Way

Los Angeles Dodgers v Los Angeles Angels / Brandon Sloter/GettyImages

When the Los Angeles Dodgers take the field to face off with the (all-of-a-sudden favored) San Diego Padres on Saturday night, they'll be pinning some of their hopes on a recent call-up.

Edgardo Henriquez, who vaulted all the way from below the 40-man roster to the big leagues in September, found his electric arm selected for the Dodgers' NLDS roster.

Though the Padres are dealing with plenty of injury repercussions (Joe Musgrove, so sorry, you deserve to be here), the Dodgers will also be forced to call on Henriquez in Joe Kelly's wake.

Predictably, both Kelly and Clayton Kershaw were not included in Saturday's roster announcement, as neither pitcher bounced back to the point of viability.

Dodgers Playoff Roster for NLDS without Clayton Kershaw, Joe Kelly (for good reason)

Henriquez is a more exciting upside play than Kelly at this moment, anyway, but the reasoning behind the decision certainly had a lot to do with the veteran righty's availability. According to Dave Roberts, Kelly sustained a shoulder injury during workouts, and won't be available until the World Series (at the very earliest).

That dark timeline would actually qualify as optimistic for Clayton Kershaw. The legendary left-hander, who was swayed to return this offseason by his cosmic desire to continue contributing to title runs in workmanlike fashion, sustained a toe injury in late August, classified as a bone spur.

Not only has Kershaw not bounced back, but the pain has actually worsened, per Roberts. Clearly, "intolerable" doesn't even begin to describe the issue, if Kershaw's been entirely unable to drop and drive.

Without Kershaw (and Gavin Stone, and Tyler Glasnow...), the Dodgers will roll with Yoshinobu Yamamoto in the Game 1 opener after a last-minute switch. Los Angeles hasn't had a starting pitcher record an out in the sixth inning of a postseason game in years, and Yamamoto, who's been dominant but unable to provide length lately, isn't expected to break that streak.

This walking wounded staff can certainly rely on a top-tier offense, but with Freddie Freeman also hobbled, will it be enough? At the very least, it would've been nice not to experience some newfound injury concerns mere hours ahead of Game 1 against a division rival.

Adam Weinrib

Adam Weinrib

Adam Weinrib is a Content Director on the FanSided network, and has been the co-editor at Yanks Go Yard and Dodgers Way for 4 years. He also co-hosts The Baseball Insiders Podcast twice weekly, alongside FanSided MLB insider Robert Murray, as well as the Yanks Go Yard Podcast. Previously, he was a Senior Editor at 12up.com, and has been covering MLB and NFL for eight years. Previously, he was a headline and features contributor at ClickHole and Onion Sports, as well as the Associate Producer of the ESPN 30 for 30 film "Believeland". An avowed fan of the New York sports teams -- specifically the Yankees -- as well as the North Carolina Tar Heels, you can find Adam complaining mid-game on Twitter, as well as on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn if the game goes really poorly.