MLB Player News

Kershaw (back) went through a session of dry work (going through a throwing motion without a ball) in the bullpen Tuesday, David Vassegh of AM 570 LA Sports reports.

Kershaw had been scheduled to start Game 2 of the NLCS against Atlanta on Tuesday but was scratched due to back spasms. The veteran lefty typically does dry work the day before his start, so the session could indicate the Dodgers intend for him to start Game 3 on Wednesday. The team has yet to officially announce its plans for him, but indications seem to be that he'll be pushed back by no more than a day or two.

Kershaw isn't expected to miss much time due to back spasms and could start Game 4 of the NLCS on Thursday or even Game 3 on Wednesday, Jon Morosi of MLB Network reports.

Kershaw was scratched from his scheduled start for Game 2 on Tuesday and replaced by Tony Gonsolin, but it doesn't appear as though the issue is particularly serious. With no off days during the series, missing a Game 2 start means Kershaw doesn't have much of a chance to make two starts, though it's still possible he could appear out of the bullpen if the matchup goes as long as six or seven games.

Gonsolin will start Game 2 of the NLCS against the Braves on Tuesday, Eric Stephen of SBNation.com reports.

Gonsolin will step in to replace Clayton Kershaw, who was scratched due to back spasms. It will be his first career postseason appearance. Gonsolin is coming off a regular season in which he recorded a 2.31 ERA in eight starts and one relief appearance, striking out 26.1 percent of opposing batters while walking just 4.0 percent.

Kershaw was scratched from his scheduled start Tuesday against the Braves in Game 2 of the NLCS due to back spasms, Eric Stephen of SBNation.com reports.

The initial diagnosis doesn't appear to be too serious, so it's entirely possible he's able to start one of the next few games of the series. Missing Game 2 essentially rules out any chances of him starting two games in the series, however. Tony Gonsolin will take the hill in his absence Tuesday.

Buehler walked five batters in five innings in Game 1 of the NLCS against the Braves on Monday but limited the damage to just one run allowed. He struck out seven while allowing just three hits and did not factor into the decision.

Buehler didn't do a great job keeping the bases clean, though they were empty when the Braves recorded their only extra-base hit against him, a Freddie Freeman solo homer in the first inning. While the walks are something of a concern, partially because they forced him to use 100 pitches just to get through five frames, the final line is one Buehler and the Dodgers can be happy with. The righty now owns a 2.77 ERA in three starts this postseason.

Fried allowed just one run in six innings in Game 1 of the NLCS against the Dodgers on Monday, striking out nine while walking two and allowing six hits. He did not factor into the decision.

Fried bounced back from an unimpressive NLDS outing against the Marlins with a gem against the Dodgers. The lefty allowed a pair of baserunners in each of the first two innings but settled down from there, allowing just a total of two more over his last four frames. One of those was a solo homer by Enrique Hernandez, which kept Fried from earning a win, but the outing on the whole was a strong one. He lines up to pitch Game 6 if necessary.

The Dodgers recalled Wood from their taxi squad Monday ahead of Game 1 of Los Angeles' NLCS matchup with the Braves, Alanna Rizzo of Spectrum SportsNet LA reports.

Wood will assume the 28-man active roster spot previously being filled by infielder Gavin Lux, who was optioned in a corresponding move. During the regular season, Wood made two starts for the Dodgers, but he'll work exclusively out of the bullpen in the NLCS with Los Angeles expected to run out a four-man rotation.

Lorenzen will be under consideration to start for the Reds next season, Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports. There could be two openings in the Reds rotation, as both Trevor Bauer and Anthony DeSclafani are free agents.

Lorenzen finished the season in a hybrid role for the Reds, making two spot starts along with a number of longer relief outings. "I think he set himself up to be looked at next year as a possible solution for our starting five," Reds pitching coach Derek Johnson said. "I know he wants to do that, and I don't think it's been any secret that he wants to do that. He's put himself in that position to potentially do that. I think there is some competition there for him."

Urias turned out to be the primary pitcher for Thursday's NLDS Game 3 win over the Padres, picking up the victory after allowing just a single unearned run on one hit over five innings of relief. He struck out six while walking one.

Dustin May was announced as the starter but was only asked to throw one inning before turning it over to Adam Kolarek, who in turn handed off to Urias just two outs later. The young lefty was excellent, with an error and a balk combining to allow the Padres to score their only run during his five frames. Urias has now thrown eight innings without allowing a single earned run this postseason.

May was merely the opener for Game 3 of the NLDS against the Padres, as he was only asked to throw a single inning, striking out one and walking one while allowing no hits and no runs.

The Dodgers faked out fantasy players and seemingly the Padres as well, who started left-handed platoon bat Mitch Moreland only to pull him for Jurickson Profar after a single plate appearance. May recorded just three outs, with Adam Kolarek recording the next two before handing the ball to Julio Urias, who threw five innings. May has now thrown three scoreless innings across his two appearances this postseason. It's entirely possible he makes a proper start during the NLDS against Atlanta, though there's little reason to believe that the Dodgers will suddenly stop being creative with their pitching staff -- especially considering May now hasn't been allowed to last at least five innings in an appearance since Sept. 22.