The Los Angeles Dodgers have been a mess to start the season and now they’re going to be without ace Clayton Kershaw for the foreseeable future. They’re 15-19 heading into Tuesday’s series opener at home with Arizona and that’s much worse than most people thought they’d be in early May. With Kershaw now on the disabled list with no clear timetable, the Dodgers betting odds are expected to take a tumble.
Kershaw, a three-time Cy Young winner and former MVP, is on the ten-day disabled list with biceps tendinitis. The good news is there is no structural damage. The bad news is he could be on the shelf for much longer than 10 days. Kershaw is 1-4 so far this season with an ERA of 2.86, so he hasn’t been his normal self. His ERA is still strong but he hasn’t had much run support. There have been a couple of strange starts for Kershaw, notably against Miami in which he walked six batters. This is a good chance for the Dodgers to shut him down and let him get 100% healthy because it is a long season.
That being said, the Dodgers’ odds to win the World Series are going to be in trouble as long as Kershaw is on the disabled list. BetDSI Sportsbook currently has them at 15/1 but that could trop if Kershaw’s injury lingers and the Dodgers struggle. Compounding the Dodgers problems is their inconsistency at the plate. They’re 21st in the majors in slugging percentage and while they do a decent job of generating runs (tied for 11th), they do need some pop. Having Kershaw on the disabled list has nothing to do with that. The fact that Corey Seager is now out for the season after Tommy John surgery isn’t helping matters at all.
If you have Kershaw on your fantasy team, you should stash him for a while, but keep him. Kershaw’s 2.86 ERA is his highest since 2012, when it was 2.53. Once he is fully healthy, he should get back to the Cy Young-type of pitcher we all know he is. Don’t give up on him yet. If the Dodgers are going to make a run, they need Clayton Kershaw on the mound.
Odds To Win 2018 World Series
Arizona Diamondbacks +1000
Atlanta Braves +6000
Baltimore Orioles +95000
Boston Red Sox +800
Chicago Cubs +800
Chicago White Sox +95000
Cincinnati Reds +99999
Cleveland Indians +900
Colorado Rockies +3000
Detroit Tigers +50000
Houston Astros +500
Kansas City Royals +85000
Los Angeles Angels +2000
Los Angeles Dodgers +1500
Miami Marlins +95000
Milwaukee Brewers +2500
Minnesota Twins +6000
New York Mets +3000
New York Yankees +400
Oakland Athletics +10000
Philadelphia Phillies +5000
Pittsburgh Pirates +8000
San Diego Padres +60000
San Francisco Giants +3000
Seattle Mariners +3000
St Louis Cardinals +2000
Tampa Bay Rays +25000
Texas Rangers +50000
Toronto Blue Jays +6500
Washington Nationals +800
