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The Los Angeles Dodgers placed three-time Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw on the 15-day injured list Friday due to low back pain.

In corresponding roster moves, the Dodgers activated infielder/outfielder Chris Taylor from the injured list, recalled right-handed pitcher Reyes Moronta from Triple-A Oklahoma City and optioned outfielder James Outman.

Kershaw left his start Thursday against the host San Francisco Giants before the start of the fifth inning. He experienced back tightness while throwing warmup pitches.

Kershaw got an X-ray and an MRI done Friday in Los Angeles. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told MLB Network Radio earlier in the day that, although he expected Kershaw to require an IL stint, “I am optimistic in the sense that it shouldn’t be too long-term of being down.”

It marks the second IL stint of the season for the 34-year-old left-hander. He missed just more than one month of the season bridging May and June with SI joint inflammation in his lower spine.

Kershaw is 7-3 with a 2.64 ERA this season across 15 starts. He was named to his ninth All-Star team and started last month’s game at Dodger Stadium.

Moronta takes over Kershaw’s spot on the 26-man roster. The 29-year-old will be playing his fifth stint for the major league club this season and is 0-0 with a 4.67 ERA through 16 games thus far.

Taylor, 31, hadn’t played since July 4 due to a left foot fracture. He is batting .238 with six homers and 27 RBIs in 74 games this season. He was an All-Star in 2021.

The Dodgers open a three-game home series with the San Diego Padres on Friday. Taylor will start at second base.

–Field Level Media