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Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw has been scratched from his start this evening for the Dodgers Opening Day matchup against the San Francisco Giants due to back stiffness. He has been placed on the 10 day injured list, and Dustin May will start in his place.
This was going to be Kershaw’s ninth Opening Day start, all for the Dodgers, the team for whom he has pitched his entire career. Kershaw was the best pitcher in baseball for much of the twenty teens, but has had issues staying healthy the past few seasons, and has not made 30 starts since the 2016 season, when he was 27.
The Dodgers are also missing David Price, the veteran starter they acquired from Boston in the Mookie Betts trade this offseason. Price exercised his option to opt out of playing this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Dodgers have a lot of depth, but with Price out, if Kershaw misses significant time, their rotation depth could be tested.