Team doctors initially said the injury would keep the southpaw on the sidelines for 4-6 weeks but Dave Roberts said there is no timeline for Kershaw's return.
In the meantime, the Dodgers are playing winning baseball, building a 12-game lead over Arizona in the National League West.Las Vegas had the Dodgers pegged to win the World Series before Kershaw got hurt. Now the odds may not be so favorable.
With the July 31 trade deadline only days away, the Dodgers' braintrust has some big decisions to make: go after the likes of Sonny Gray in Oakland, Yu Darvish in Texas or Justin Verlander in Detroit, or hope Kershaw can come back for a stretch run that takes the Dodgers deep into the playoffs.
It's always a difficult decision: trade away prospects for a short-term solution or stand pat. Los Angeles has not played in or won a World Series since 1988. Windows of opportunity stay open only so long.
The 2017 Dodgers are chock full of talent but the stars have to align just so for a team to be hitting on all cylinders when October baseball comes around.
Brock Stewart gets the call tonight to try to sweep the Twins in Kershaw's absence but he will not be able to replicate Kershaw's numbers. The bullpen is strong and closer Kenley Jansen has been lights out.
But can you win it all without an ace?
Major league managers are changing how they use their bullpens -- asking relievers to go longer and using more of a platoon system to get to the closer.
So far, this new management group has made some great calls.
Cody Bellinger, Chris Taylor, Alex Wood, Austin Barnes, Corey Seager, Yasiel Puig and Joc Pederson are all young players who have contributed mightily to LA's success.
Let's hope they make the right call about what to do before Monday's trading deadline.
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