Kershaw to have MRI after back tightens up

LOS ANGELES -- Clayton Kershaw returned to the mound for the first time in more than four weeks and left after five innings with more questions than answers, as he will be going for an MRI on his back Friday in Los Angeles. Depending upon the results of that test, the Dodgers' 2-1 loss to the Phillies on Thursday could be the least important aspect of the game.
Kershaw's line looked decent, considering the layoff: one run on four hits and one walk with five strikeouts, throwing 62 pitches, 42 for strikes, over five innings. Unfortunately for Kershaw, the final pitching line doesn't tell the entire story.

"Beyond frustrating," he said. "I felt like I was out of the woods. I was feeling good and then to have that crop up."

• Morning Lineup Podcast: Kershaw's back tightness
The Dodgers are likely to be overly cautious and not take any chances with their star pitcher. Kershaw has spent time on the disabled list the past two seasons with back injuries, including a prolonged stretch in 2016 due to a herniated disk. He also strained the teres major muscle in his upper back in the 2014 season opener in Sydney, Australia.
"Obviously with Clayton's history you want to make sure -- there is some concern," manager Dave Roberts said. "You want to make sure that he's well, so we're going to kind of dig into it and see if there is anything to it."
Kershaw tried to take some of that history out of the equation.

"[The injury in] 2016 is entirely different. That was very, very severe," he said. "If I can compare it to anything, maybe comparing it to last year, maybe feeling it but it might not be that bad.
"My back has felt unbelievable until today. The shoulder is fine. ... I'm frustrated and disappointed that I can't contribute to the team. Being on the DL is no fun. ... But maybe I can avoid that, we'll have to see what happens."

Thursday was Kershaw's first start since May 1, as he had been sidelined due to left biceps tendinitis. He is 1-4 with a 2.76 ERA in eight outings this season.
The three-time Cy Young Award winner wasn't throwing his fastball much Thursday, and when he did, it was topping out at 87-88 mph.
"I just saw that his stuff started to back up." Roberts said. "The fastball, slider and the curve, everything seemed to kick down a bit."
The injury bug has bitten the Dodgers throughout the 2018 season, as they are also missing starting pitchers Kenta Maeda (right hip strain), Rich Hill (blister on fingertip) and Hyun Jin Ryu (groin strain).