Injured again

Dodgers’ Kershaw on IL with low back pain

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles Dodgers placed left-hander Clayton Kershaw on the 15-day injured list Friday, one day after he left a start with lower back pain.

This marks the 34-yearold Kershaw’s second trip to the injured list this season. He was previously sidelined with inflammation in a pelvic joint.

Kershaw had an X-ray and an MRI on Friday, but Dave Roberts didn’t know the results of the MRI prior to Los Angeles’ game against San Diego. Roberts said Kershaw was sore Friday.

“Hopefully it’s going to be shorter than longer,” Roberts said.

Roberts said he’s hesitant to give a timeline until they have results of the MRI.

Kershaw’s previous back injury was on the right side, and this one is more on the left side, according to Roberts.

The three-time N.L. Cy Young Award winner was warming up before the fifth inning of a 5-3 victory Thursday against San Francisco when he winced and pointed to the Dodgers’ dugout. He later walked off the field with a trainer.

Kershaw, a nine-time AllStar, is 7-3 with a 2.64 ERA and 88 strikeouts in 85⅓ innings.

The Dodgers will need to fill Kershaw’s spot in the rotation in the near future. Dustin May, who had Tommy John surgery last year, is trending toward a return soon. May has another rehab start Tuesday in Triple-A Oklahoma City.