Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw experienced a setback in his comeback from left shoulder surgery and will not make his scheduled rehab start Tuesday for Triple-A Oklahoma City, according to manager Dave Roberts.
Roberts said Monday that Kershaw will be shut down from throwing for at least a week due to “lingering soreness” in his surgically repaired shoulder.
According to Roberts, Kershaw underwent an MRI that revealed no new issues.
Kershaw last Wednesday threw three innings in his first rehab start for Class A Rancho Cucamonga, allowing one run on two hits while striking out five and walking one on a pitch clock violation. He threw 37 pitches, most of which registered 88 to 90 mph.
“I checked all the boxes,” Kershaw said after the outing. “It was fun to get back out there. As long as everything comes out fine, I think I’m on for the next one. Stuff’s OK. It’s getting better, so hopeful that over time you start working more on pitching and less about health and get ready to go.”
Kershaw, 36, underwent surgery in November, a month after his disastrous start in Game 1 of the National League Division Series against the Arizona Diamondbacks in which he left having gotten just one out. The Dodgers were swept in the series.
The Dodgers’ rotation has been rocked recently. Yoshinobu Yamamoto is out indefinitely after going on the injured list with a strained rotator cuff. Walker Buehler, who is coming off a second Tommy John surgery, joined him on the IL last week after taking a line drive to his right hip at Colorado.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.