The Dodgers placed Clayton Kershaw, their opening day starter, on the stiff back injury list Thursday hours before hitting the field to begin their season against the San Francisco Giants.
Instead, the right Dustin May was removed from the market and will begin on Thursday. He will become the first rookie to start opening day for the Dodgers since Fernando Valenzuela in 1981. Valenzuela was in a similar place: He replaced the injured Jerry Reuss. Valenzuela, who was then 20 years old, abandoned his first career start. He then won the NL Cy Young and Rookie of the Year awards.
Kershaw was scheduled to make his ninth inaugural franchise registration day. The plan was derailed when he injured his back in the weight room on Tuesday. Kershaw underwent treatment on Wednesday and showed improvement, but fell back on Thursday.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Kershaw went to Dodger Stadium on Thursday for treatment before the club decided to put him on the disabled list.
“Just to make sure we erred on the side of caution I didn’t feel it was wise to start it,” said Roberts. “So we let Dustin May know [Wednesday] that this was a possibility and that is how it unfolds. “
Kershaw has encountered back problems throughout his career. In 2014, he missed more than a month with inflammation of his back. Two years later, he lost more than two months with a herniated disc in his lower back. The following year he lost more than a month with his lower back tense. In 2018, he was on the disabled list for 23 days after his lower back was tightened again.
Kershaw avoided a back injury last season, but started the season on the disabled list with swelling of the left shoulder. This is the second year in a row that he was named opening day starter before the Dodgers had to find a replacement.
“I think the disappointment for me is for Clayton because he is as prepared a player as ever,” said Roberts. “And starting an opening day means a lot to him. So, so he can’t experience it for the ninth time, I think, I just feel for him. “
Hyun-Jin Ryu was Kershaw’s replacement last season. This year, it is May, the best pitching prospect in the organization, because it was the best option with the rest necessary to have a full start available. The 22-year-old right-hander was slated to pitch in a simulated game Wednesday, but the Dodgers scrapped the plans knowing it might be necessary on Thursday.
May made her major league debut last August. Thursday will be the fifth start of his career and the fifteenth overall appearance. Last season, he recorded an average of 3.63 runs won with 32 strikeouts in 34 2/3 innings.
He is likely to remain in the rotation to start Wednesday against the Houston Astros because Kershaw is not eligible to return until next Friday.
“He is very unflappable,” said Roberts. “He is a very confident young man. Obviously it has really good things. So when a change in plans occurs, Dustin adjusts very well. ”
