MLB Rumors: Here’s Dodgers’ ‘Optimistic’ Prognosis For Clayton Kershaw’s Return

Clayton Kershaw’s bad back isn’t causing his team to panic.

The Los Angeles Dodgers hope the star pitcher will be available to start Game 3 or 4 of the National League Championship Series against the Atlanta Braves, MLB.com’s John Morosi reported Tuesday, citing a source. The Dodgers scratched Kershaw as their Game 2 starter Tuesday after he suffered back spasms hours before first pitch.

Tony Gonsolin will start in Kershaw’s place in Game 2, which is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. ET.

The Braves beat the Dodgers in Game 1, and Los Angeles was hoping Kershaw would hurl them to a series-tying win.

Back spasms forced Kershaw to miss the first 10 games of the 2020 season, but he recovered from injury and produced a fine campaign. After going 6-2 in 10 starts with a 2.16 ERA in 58.1 innings during the regular season, he won both of his postseason starts with 19 strikeouts in 14 innings to date.

However, he’ll have to wait a few days to build on those numbers … or perhaps longer.