Just moments before Dodger manager Dave Roberts was scheduled to begin his 3:00 p.m. Zoom press conference, Twitter exploded with news that 32-year-old Dodgers left-hander Clayton Kershaw had been scratched from his Opening Day start at Dodger Stadium due to back stiffness he suffered while working out in the weight room on Tuesday.

“It was his workout on Tuesday, his back stiffened up and [he] got treatment on it that night, felt better,” Roberts explained. “Yesterday, [he] came in, felt a little bit better, and then this morning, just with the training staff, just to make sure we error on the side of caution, didn’t feel that is was prudent to start him.

“So, we let Dustin May know yesterday that this was a possibility, and so this is the way it’s played out,” Roberts said, adding that May will start in Kershaw’s stead.

Roberts went on to say that he does not know the timetable for Kershaw’s return, but added that the plan is to backdate Kershaw’s Injured List status and he is hopeful that his ace will be ready for the Arizona series next week.

“He’s just very unflappable, he’s a very confident young man, who’s got very good stuff,” Roberts said of May. “When a change of plans happens, Dustin adjusts very well.”

At 22 years and 321 days old, May becomes the second-youngest Dodger to make an Opening Day start, behind only Fernando Valenzuela at 22 years and 155 days old in 1981.

…and we all know how that season ended.

Play Ball!

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