Dodgers Injury Update: Clayton Kershaw, Joe Kelly, Tyler Glasnow, Brusdar Graterol

Unfortunately, the image of a sad Clayton Kershaw leaving the mound after just one inning against the Diamondbacks might be an image that Arizona fans are getting too used to. The D-Backs not only sold a framed picture of Gabriel Moreno hitting a three-run homer off of Kershaw in Game 1 of the NLDS in their team store, but he also left Game 1 of this past weekend's Dodgers series in Arizona in the second frame, after giving up three runs.

The Dodgers huddled on the mound after a solo homer for Corbin Carroll, and Kershaw gave the ball to Dave Roberts as he left the field. The team announced he was removed with left big toe pain, and he was placed on the 15-day IL with inflammation the next day. Kershaw told reporters that he'd been dealing with a bone spur there for years, and Roberts said, "There’s so much swelling, he can barely move around with it."

On Monday, Roberts also said Kershaw would need a boot and would need scans on his toe, and he was seen throwing at Chase Field with the boot on. As of now, it's unclear what the path forward is here for Kershaw, or if he'll be able to return during the regular season or even the postseason, a potentially brutal blow for a pitcher who came back this year wanting to help the Dodgers win it all.

Dodgers Injury Updates: Clayton Kershaw returns to the IL, Joe Kelly shoulder inflammation, Tyler Glasnow and Brusdar Graterol progress

Joe Kelly joined Kershaw on the 15-day IL on the same day with right shoulder inflammation, which is never a good sign. Kelly has been pretty awful in his last 15 appearances, with a 6.08 ERA and a blown save opportunity earlier this month, so the chances of the Dodgers re-signing him again in free agency seemed rather slim. This IL stint might be the nail in the coffin, but there is a chance he could be considered if he can return during the last week of the regular season and regain form in the playoffs.

In more bad news, Tyler Glasnow's return from the IL continues to be incredibly dubious. He went onto the 15-day IL on Aug. 16 with elbow tendonitis, and at the time was confident he'd be able to return as soon as those 15 days were up. However, more than 15 days later, he doesn't seem anywhere near a return. He's been playing catch, but has yet to throw off a mound, and while he was still confident he'd be able to get a few starts in before the season ends, Roberts recently said the Dodgers were "hopeful" he'd be able to come back.

With just over 20 games left, there's very little time for Glasnow to ramp up to throwing from a mound, facing live hitting, and maybe completing a couple of rehab starts. If anything, one regular season start might be possible, but even that feels like a stretch.

For some light at the end of the tunnel, however, Brusdar Graterol began a Triple-A rehab assignment on Tuesday. He pitched one inning and gave up three hits and one earned run. It's unclear how long the Dodgers plan to keep him in OKC, but with Kelly now on the IL, the sooner the better.

The Dodgers' pitching staff is seemingly doomed to be saddled with injuries from start to finish this season. They've still been managing to win without Glasnow and Graterol, and with Kershaw and Kelly's performances being shaky, but if the Dodgers have to go into the postseason without all four of them, they'll be very much on the back foot.