Dodgers' latest injury update spells trouble as Padres' arch nemesis nears return

As we hit the All-Star break, the San Diego Padres are on the outside of the MLB postseason picture. The Friars lost six of their last seven games and now sit seven games behind the division-leading Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West. San Diego is a game out of the NL Wild Card hunt as well.

Things aren't going to get any easier for the Friars when play resumes later this week. Though the respite will be nice for the struggling Padres' starting rotation and those players who are nursing nagging injuries (Fernando Tatis Jr. and Luis Arráez), San Diego will need to get off to a fast start during MLB's unofficial second half. The Padres open the second half with three of their first four series against division-leading opponents.

There's also a familiar foe who looks to be standing in the Padres' way once the All-Star break is in the rearview mirror. Longtime Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw, who almost retired this past offseason, is looking to return after the All-Star break, and that could be a problem for the Padres.

Dodgers' latest injury update spells trouble as Padres' arch nemesis nears return

Kershaw has not only been one of the Padres' biggest obstacles over the years, but he's been a thorn in the side of nearly every major league ball club has he's ever faced. In his 425 career games, Kershaw has 210 wins and is just 56 punchouts away from 3,000 for his career.

But only one franchise, other than the Padres, can claim that Kershaw has beaten them up more over the years and that's the Colorado Rockies. Kershaw is 27-11 against the Rockies with a 3.30 ERA in 50 starts. Against the Friars, the three-time Cy Young Award-winner is 23-10 and has a sparkling 2.12 ERA 46 games played against San Diego. Only the San Francisco Giants (402) have fallen victim to a Kershaw punchout more often than the Padres (317).

The Dodgers expect Kershaw to make one more rehab start with LA's Triple-A affiliate before rejoining the major league club. Kershaw's last outing for Triple-A Oklahoma City saw the lefty go three innings and strike out five batters without allowing a hit.

While the Dodgers have endured an inordinate number of injuries to their starting rotation — including placing Yoshinobu Yamamoto on the 60-day IL — Padres fans will not like seeing Kershaw back on the bump for Los Angeles.

With LA's desire to see Kershaw make at least one more minor league start before his return to the big leagues, it's quite possible the 10-time All-Star will return just in time for the Dodgers' trip to Petco Park at the end of the month. Here's to hoping he's still working off some rust at that point.

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