When Will Clayton Kershaw Be Activated From The Injured List? Fantasy Baseball Injury Update

The Los Angeles Dodgers are having a successful season. Their 65-46 record is good for first place in the National League West and they rank fourth in all of Major League Baseball in run differential. While the offense is doing its part to power the team to the playoffs, the pitching in Los Angeles has been underwhelming.

Injuries and subpar performances have plagued the Dodgers’ rotation all season. Their starting pitchers’ collective ERA of 4.66 and combined 505 strikeouts both rank in the bottom third in the majors. The staff will soon get some help with the return of Clayton Kershaw, who has been on the injured list since the end of June.

When exactly will Kershaw be activated? How much will he help fantasy baseball teams down the stretch? Let’s take a look at some news and numbers to figure it out.

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Clayton Kershaw Injury Update

Kershaw landed on the injured list on June 30 after team doctors discovered inflammation in Kershaw’s shoulder and advised that he not throw for a few days. However, the rest period wasn’t enough to prevent a trip to the injured list, and some disappointing MRI results warranted a longer stay than initially expected.

At long last Kershaw was given the green light to throw some simulated games. After completing those sessions last week without a setback, the Dodgers are ready to return the future Hall-of-Famer to action. After teasing a possible return the last few days, manager Dave Roberts made it all but official in postgame comments on Monday afternoon.

A Thursday return means Kershaw will be pitching against the Rockies again, the same team he faced in his last start back on June 27. In that game, he allowed just one hit and one walk in six shutout innings and earned his tenth win on the season. 

Clayton Kershaw Fantasy Baseball Outlook

Kershaw will be welcomed back with open arms by his teammates and fantasy owners alike. Before his injury, he had compiled a 10-4 record, a 2.55 ERA, and 105 strikeouts through 95.1 innings pitched. Injured list stint aside, the 35-year-old is aging as gracefully as one could hope.

Kershaw’s strikeout, walk, and home run rates this year are all in line with his career numbers so he can be trusted to keep the ERA and WHIP in check while delivering a little more than a strikeout per inning. Potential matchups in the last weeks of the season include the Brewers, Marlins, Nationals, Tigers, and Rockies (again!). Wins are tricky to predict but those matchups offer some pretty good chances to collect a few more as the season winds down. 

If (somehow) Kershaw is on your league’s waiver wire, he should be an immediate add. However, it is more likely that he has been stashed. If your league’s trade deadline has not yet passed, now is the time to shoot your shot.

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