LHP Clayton Kershaw (back injury) played catch for the third straight day. Kershaw will travel with the Dodgers on their upcoming trip, for the first three games in Atlanta and then catching up with the team for their last stop, in Arizona. He was placed on the 10-day disabled list due to back pain on July 24.

LHP Clayton Kershaw received permission from his doctors to play catch before Friday's game, indicating that his back injury may not be the long-term injury first feared. He suffered a muscle strain in the second inning of his start Sunday, near the herniated disc he suffered last season. No timetable has been put on his return. If his stay on the DL is less than four weeks, the Dodgers may decide not to pursue a starting pitcher at the trade deadline July 31. "Last year I couldn't sit," Kershaw said. "Couldn't really bend in any way. This one isn't near (as bad) in any way. I'm just trying to balance what I want to do with not doing too much before it heals."

LHP Clayton Kershaw is expected to be sidelined at least a month for the Los Angeles Dodgers after leaving Sunday's game due to back pain. The initial prognosis by the team on Monday, first reported by Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports and confirmed by the Los Angeles Times, is that Kershaw will miss four to six weeks. Kershaw was on his way to a runaway Cy Young season when he encountered tightness in his back Sunday. He was 15-2 with a 2.07 ERA before Sunday's game and even had a case for Most Valuable Player for the National League West-leading Dodgers. He threw 21 pitches and struck out two and walked one before manager Dave Roberts visited the mound.

LHP Clayton Kershaw was placed on the 10-day disabled list due to back pain on Monday. He is expected to miss at least a month. Kershaw was on his way to a runaway Cy Young season when he encountered tightness in his back Sunday. He was 15-2 with a 2.07 ERA before Sunday's game and even had a case for Most Valuable Player for the National League West-leading Dodgers. He threw 21 pitches and struck out two and walked one before manager Dave Roberts visited the mound.

The Los Angeles Dodgers are expecting ace left-hander Clayton Kershaw to be sidelined at least a month after leaving Sunday's game due to back pain.The Dodgers placed Kershaw on the 10-day disabled list Monday.In other roster moves, right-hander Brandon McCarthy was put (blister) on the 10-day DL, outfielder Trayce Thompson was optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City, left-hander Hyun-Jin Ryu was reinstated from the DL, the contract of left-hander Edward Paredes was selected from Oklahoma City and right-hander Josh Ravin was recalled from OKC.The initial prognosis on Kershaw by the team, first reported by Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports and confirmed by the Los Angeles Times, is that the Dodgers' ace will miss four to six weeks.A final determination of Kershaw's condition and timetable for his absence will be made following an examination by specialist Dr. Robert Watkins. Kershaw was on his way to a runaway Cy Young season when he encountered tightness in his back Sunday.Kershaw was 15-2 with a... [More]

The Los Angeles Dodgers are expecting ace left-hander Clayton Kershaw to be sidelined at least a month after leaving Sunday's game due to back pain.The initial prognosis by the team on Monday, first reported by Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports and confirmed by the Los Angeles Times, is that Kershaw will miss four to six weeks.A final determination of Kershaw's condition and timetable for his absence will be made following an examination by specialist Dr. Robert Watkins. Kershaw was on his way to a runaway Cy Young season when he encountered tightness in his back Sunday.Kershaw was 15-2 with a 2.07 ERA before Sunday's game and even had a case for Most Valuable Player for the National League West-leading Dodgers. He threw 21 pitches and struck out two and walked one before manager Dave Roberts visited the mound. "Obviously, I'm not optimistic because I got taken out of the game," said Kershaw, who spent more than two months on the disabled list in 2016 with a back injury. "At the same time, some... [More]

Clayton Kershaw was on his way to a runaway Cy Young season when the Los Angeles Dodgers' left-hander encountered tightness in his back Sunday.Kershaw was 15-2 with a 2.07 ERA before Sunday's game and even had a case for Most Valuable Player for the National League West-leading Dodgers. He threw 21 pitches and struck out two and walked one before manager Dave Roberts visited the mound. Kershaw was removed from the game with back pain."Obviously, I'm not optimistic because I got taken out of the game," said Kershaw, who spent more than two months on the disabled list in 2016 with a back injury. "At the same time, some of the symptoms aren't as bad as they could be."Kershaw said he was feeling "a lot of frustration" because his hundreds of hours of treatment and rehab apparently weren't enough to preserve his balky back.The Dodgers, who lead the NL West by 10 1/2 games entering Monday, will not push Kershaw to return regardless of his recovery. At this point, Roberts expects a considerable stint on the disabled list for the team's ace.Roberts would not comment on the team's interest in other starting pitchers. The Dodgers have been rumored to be interested in Texas Rangers right-hander Yu Darvish and have one week before the trade deadline.

LHP Clayton Kershaw left the game after two innings with right low back tightness and will go on the 10-day disabled list."I'm not optimistic just because I got taken out of the game," Kershaw said. "At the same time, some of the symptoms aren't as bad as they could be. Hopefully find out more (Sunday evening)." Last year, Kershaw missed 2 1/2 months during the season with a herniated disc that didn't require surgery."I don't want to compare because there's so many variables," Kershaw said. "I don't even know how to compare it, honestly."Kershaw said he felt something different on his final warmup pitch in the second inning.

Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw left Los Angeles' game against the Atlanta Braves after two innings Sunday due to right lower back tightness.Kershaw was scheduled to see Dr. Robert Watkins on Sunday evening for tests. Manager Dave Roberts said Kershaw would go on the 10-day disabled list no matter the results.This is not the first time Kershaw has dealt with a back issue. Last year, he missed 2 1/2 months during the season with a herniated disk that didn't require surgery. He said he felt something different on his final warmup pitch in the second inning.Kershaw struck out two, walked one and didn't allow a hit or a run while throwing 21 pitches before exiting. He is 15-2 with a 2.04 ERA and is having another Cy Young Award-caliber season. Kershaw hasn't lost a start since May 1.--Washington Nationals right-hander Stephen Strasburg was lifted after pitching two scoreless innings against the Arizona Diamondbacks.Strasburg said after the game that he was experiencing achiness in his forearm that... [More]

LOS ANGELES -- Logan Forsythe hit a bases-loaded, walk-off single in the 10th inning to give the Los Angeles Dodgers a 5-4 win over the Atlanta Braves on Sunday.Despite the win, the Dodgers got some bad news, as ace Clayton Kershaw left the game after two innings with right lower back tightness. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Kershaw would go on the 10-day disabled list.Austin Barnes and Cody Bellinger homered for the Dodgers, but Kenley Jansen blew a save by giving up a three-run homer to Matt Adams that tied the game at 4 in the ninth inning. Jansen was perfect in his first 24 save opportunities but couldn't get the four-out save on Sunday.Cubs 5, Cardinals 3CHICAGO -- Willson Contreras snapped a tie with a two-run home run in the sixth inning, leading Chicago to a victory over St. Louis and a tie for first place in the National League Central.The Cubs caught Milwaukee in the division with their eighth victory in nine games. Chicago has made up a 5 1/2-game deficit on the Brewers since... [More]

LOS ANGELES -- Los Angeles Dodgers ace left-hander Clayton Kershaw left his start against the Atlanta Braves on Sunday after two innings with right lower back tightness, the team announced. Kershaw uncharacteristically bounced a curveball in the dirt and was visited by a trainer and manager Dave Roberts in the second inning during Tyler Flowers' at-bat. Kershaw eventually walked Flowers and then struck out Matt Adams to end the inning. Trainers talked to Kershaw in the dugout and then went into the clubhouse. Long reliever Ross Stripling warmed up in the bullpen and entered the game in the third. Several Dodgers players are sick, including Justin Turner -- who has bronchitis -- and Rich Hill. Kershaw was 15-2 with a 2.07 ERA before Sunday's game and is having another Cy Young-caliber season for the National League West-leading Dodgers. He threw 21 pitches and struck out two and walked one. Tracye Thompson pinch hit for Kershaw in the second inning.

LHP Clayton Kershaw (15-2) admitted he was a little rusty after a nine-day layoff but was effective enough to handle the Chicago White Sox in a 1-0 Dodgers victory on Tuesday. Kershaw (15-2) extended his unbeaten streak to 14 starts since May 6, a stretch that includes 11 victories. He allowed seven hits and one walk while striking out seven. "My fastball command wasn't great the first few innings but got a little better as it went," Kershaw said. "Nine days off is definitely not something I'm used to. So I'm thankful to get out of that unscathed."

LHP Clayton Kershaw (14-2, 2.18 ERA) will start on Tuesday when the Dodgers visit the Chicago White Sox. Kershaw last pitched on July 9 against the Kansas City Royals, earning a complete-game victory. He allowed just six hits and two runs, striking out 13 without walking a batter and firing an efficient 99 pitches. Batters are hitting just .195 against Kershaw this year. Kershaw has also made 13 consecutive starts without being tagged for a loss. Kershaw hasn't pitched against the White Sox since 2014 but is 1-1 with a 4.00 ERA in three career starts against them.

Boston Red Sox left-hander Chris Sale and Washington Nationals right-hander Max Scherzer were named the starting pitchers for Tuesday night's 88th All-Star Game at Marlins Park in Miami. Sale will become the first pitcher to make consecutive All-Star starts representing different teams. He started for the American League last season while with the Chicago White Sox.The 28-year-old Sale also becomes the first pitcher to be named his league's starting pitcher in consecutive years since 2000-01 when Arizona's Randy Johnson did so for the National League. Sale also is the first in the AL since Toronto's Dave Stieb in 1983-84.In last year's game in San Diego, Sale pitched the first inning and allowed a two-out home run to Kris Bryant of the Chicago Cubs.Sale, who was traded in December to the Red Sox for top prospects, is 11-4 with a 2.75 ERA and a major league-leading 178 strikeouts in 127 2/3 innings and 18 starts this season.Scherzer, 32, will be making his second All-Star start. He was with... [More]

LHP Clayton Kershaw allowed six hits and struck out 13 Sunday in a 5-2 win over Kansas City to give him a major league-leading 14 wins at the All-Star break. He did not issue a walk, and he didn't have a three-ball count until the last batter of the game. He needed just 99 pitches, 73 of them strikes. His effort was a major league first: No pitcher has ever had 13 or more strikeouts in a complete game while throwing under 100 pitches. He is the first Dodger to go into the break with 14 wins or more since Sandy Koufax won 15 in 1966. He's made 19 starts, the Dodgers are 17-2 in those games, and this was his 16th quality start of the season. In his last 13 starts, he's 10-0 with a 1.98 ERA and .187 opponents average.

LHP Clayton Kershaw will take his normal turn in the rotation for Sunday's game against the Kansas City Royals, thereby making him ineligible to pitch in Tuesday's All-Star Game. Pitchers who start their team's final game before the All-Star break aren't eligible to compete in the Midsummer Classic. Kershaw (13-2) became the first Dodgers pitcher to win 13 games before the All-Star break since Orel Hershiser in 1988. The three-time National League Cy Young Award winner and four-time NL ERA champion struck out 11 in Tuesday's 4-3 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander Clayton Kershaw will take his normal turn in the rotation for Sunday's game against the Kansas City Royals, thereby making him ineligible to pitch in Tuesday's All-Star Game.Dodgers manager Dave Roberts made the announcement after his team's 1-0 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday.Pitchers who start their team's final game before the All-Star break aren't eligible to compete in the Midsummer Classic.A replacement hasn't been named for Kershaw (13-2), who became the first Dodgers pitcher to win 13 games before the All-Star break since Orel Hershiser in 1988. The three-time National League Cy Young Award winner and four-time NL ERA champion struck out 11 in Tuesday's 4-3 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks.Teammate Alex Wood could be a fine replacement after the 26-year-old left-hander improved to 10-0 by scattering three hits over seven innings on Wednesday.

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Clayton Kershaw gave up three hits over seven innings to earn his major-league-best 12th win, lifting the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 6-2 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Thursday night.Kershaw (12-2) allowed only an unearned run, struck out 12, his second-highest total of the season, and walked two while making 93 pitches. The Dodgers smashed three home runs, including what was essentially a game-clinching three-run blast by Joc Pederson in the sixth inning.Yasiel Puig and Chase Utley each hit solo shots, as all three homers came off Angels starter JC Ramirez. The home runs increased the Dodgers' total to 50 in June, the most in a calendar month in franchise history.Ramirez was knocked out of the game when a sixth-inning line drive by Puig struck him on the right hip. Ramirez (7-6) gave up all six Dodgers runs (five earned) on seven hits and one walk in 5 2/3 innings.White Sox 4, Yankees 3CHICAGO -- James Shields earned his first victory since April 6, throwing a... [More]

LHP Clayton Kershaw gave up one unearned run and three hits in seven innings in the Dodgers' 6-2 victory over the Angels on Thursday. Kershaw, who earned his major league-leading 12th win of the season, struck out 12 and walked two. The only run the Angels scored against him came after Dodgers LF Trayce Thompson's error led to an RBI fielder's choice by Angels DH Albert Pujols in the fourth inning. "I feel good, I think tonight was another step in the right direction," Kershaw said. "I threw everything pretty decently tonight, a few fastball mistakes but overall, I'll take tonight for sure."

LHP Clayton Kershaw will start Thursday against the Angels. The ace threw six scoreless innings in his last start, despite a difficult first inning during which he threw 33 pitches and allowed the Rockies to load the bases. Kershaw was "on edge" in that start, according to Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, because he was coming off a rough outing against the Mets. In that one, he gave up six runs and allowed a career-worst four home runs. Kershaw is 5-2 with a 2.69 ERA in nine career starts against the Angels. The only Angel who has hit Kershaw well is DH Albert Pujols, who is batting .379 (11-for-29) against him.