Dodgers expressing 'private concern' about Clayton Kershaw as struggles compound

Clayton Kershaw's second outing of the season was one we all wish we could forget. He was facing off against a Padres team that's made themselves the equivalent of an annoying, nagging gnat in the Dodgers' ears that just won't go away this season, and they turned it up a few notches during Kershaw's start.

He gave up seven runs over 3 2/3 innings. Only three were earned, thanks to three errors, but Kershaw also didn't strike out a single batter and only generated two swings and misses on 83 pitches thrown.

Kershaw did just come back from a major surgery and a nine month-long absence from a major league mound, so a certain amount of leeway was always to be expected. However, Bob Nightengale reported that the Dodgers have been "privately concerned" about him since his last start.

It's hard to tell if that concern (not private anymore, clearly) stems just from his performance or another potential health problem, or some combination of the two. Either way, it's not great for a Dodgers team that was hoping to be able to depend on him through the rest of the season and into October.

Dodgers are "privately concerned" about Clayton Kershaw after awful Padres start

Kershaw is still expected to pitch against the Phillies during their visit to LA this week, slotting in as the Dodgers' apparent No. 2 starter behind Tyler Glasnow for the time being. It'll probably take a couple more starts and allowing Kershaw to settle in more before the Dodgers decide that the problem they have on their hands is serious, but something is on their radar, and this suggests that we could be looking at a phantom IL stint in the coming weeks if Kershaw can't impress against the Phillies.

However, that would leave the Dodgers rotation hobbled once again. Walker Buehler isexpected to rejoin the team after one more Triple-A start, but he's still looking like a shadow of his past self. He's made two starts in Oklahoma City for 7 1/3 innings but has given up 15 hits and eight earned runs, so he hardly looks like someone the Dodgers can depend upon.

Nothing we actually have to worry about has happened yet, but this is definitely one to keep an eye on. The Dodgers could be headed right back to square one with Kershaw.