Clayton Kershaw is off to a rocky start in 2014. A day after landing on the disabled list for the first time in his career, the Dodgers on Tuesday announced Kershaw will be placed in a rehab that that includes a "submaximal throwing program."
The two-time Cy Young winner will be re-evaluated in 2-3 weeks according to team physician Dr. Neal ElAttache.
"I think it's just one of those things that if it doesn't hurt you push it, and if it does hurt you gotta stop," Kershaw told Steve Dilbeck of the Los Angeles Times last weekend. "That's not always easy for me to do, but I'm trying to do the right thing."
Kershaw complained of back soreness last Tuesday after the Dodgers returned from a two-game series in Australia, and the tightness reportedly continued while playing catch Saturday in Anaheim. He was placed on the DL on Sunday, and would have been eligible to return April 7 due to the Australia trip.
According to manager Don Mattingly, Kershaw will likely get a start in the minors before returning to the Dodgers' lineup.
"We have to save Clayton from Clayton," Mattingly told The Times. "We can't allow him to try and keep pushing it to go forward."
