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Dodgers' Kershaw placed on IL after suffering back injury in weight room

Victor Decolongon / Getty Images Sport / Getty

The Los Angeles Dodgers placed left-hander Clayton Kershaw on the injured list with back stiffness, the team announced Thursday.

Manager Dave Roberts told reporters that Kershaw injured himself in the weight room Tuesday and didn't offer a timeline for his return, according to Pedro Moura of The Athletic.

Roberts added that by backdating the IL stint, the earliest Kershaw can rejoin the club is during the team's series against the Arizona Diamondbacks, which begins July 30, according to J.P. Hoornstra.

The three-time Cy Young winner was slated to make his ninth Opening Day start against the San Francisco Giants on Thursday. The contest is part of a two-game launch of the shortened 2020 campaign, which begins at 7:08 p.m. ET with the New York Yankees visiting the Washington Nationals.

Right-handed pitching prospect Dustin May will start versus San Francisco after being recalled in a corresponding move. The 22-year-old authored a 3.63 ERA and 2.90 FIP over 34 2/3 innings last season, making four starts and 10 relief appearances.

Kershaw also missed Opening Day last year due to injury.

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