Coming into the spring http://www.athleticsfanproshop.com/authentic-khris-davis-jersey , there was no question as to who would be taking the mound for the Dodgers on March 28. The same guy who has taken the hill on Opening Day every year since 2010, Clayton Kershaw."WhiteFanposts Fanshots Sections 2019 Spring TrainingProspectsCommentaryNews and NotesCommentary2019 Spring TrainingShould Clayton Kershaw start season on DL?New,478commentsPSTShareTweetShareShareShould Clayton Kershaw start season on DL?Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY SportsI think it’s referred to as the IL (Injured List) now, but we’re still going to roll with the DL for this article. Manager Dave Roberts has a very tough decision on his hands. Coming into the spring, there was no question as to who would be taking the mound for the Dodgers on March 28. The same guy who has taken the hill on Opening Day every year since 2010, Clayton Kershaw. The 30-year-old Kershaw has started eight consecutive opening-days, a franchise record. That impressive streak may be in jeopardy. Kershaw has yet to appear in a game this spring, as he is dealing with shoulder inflammation. He resumed throwing earlier this week, playing catch from 60-70 feet. Though he appears to be progressing in the right direction, he still looks to be a ways away from stepping on a mound in a game. He’ll still have to go through multiple bullpen sessions, and there’s no timetable as to when that can take place. With no certain timetable as to when we can expect Kershaw to return, the question arises as to whether or not the Dodgers should place him on the DL to start the season. Kershaw has missed 165 games since 2014, including 39 in 2018. Injuries are nothing new for him. I know every Dodgers fan wants to see No. 22 take the mound on Opening Day, I myself want nothing more. But, as we’ve seen over the years, Kershaw is prone to injuries, and this is something that shouldn’t be risked. He should be given as much time as he needs to recover, and come back when he feels 100 percent healthy. Whether that’s in a few weeks, a month, or however long that is. It’s a tough pill to swallow, not having Kershaw get the nod on Opening Day. But Dave Henderson Jersey , luckily for the Dodgers, they’re built to compete regardless of how long he is out. They still have one of the better rotations in all of baseball without him, and have some guys that can fill into the role perfectly. First things first, who gets the start? Well, luckily for LA, they have plenty of options to choose from. Walker Buehler would be the likely bet, but he’s been held back so far this spring, and it’s unsure as to how healthy he’ll be come Opening Day. The Dodgers have said that they expect Buehler to be ready for the start of the season, but we haven’t seen him step on a mound yet, so that’s still to be determined. Another solid option would be Rich Hill. It’s been a good spring so far for Hill, and he’s stated that he’s already prepared for the season. After throwing only 30 pitches in his last appearance, Hill said following his outing he easily could have made it to 100 pitches. With LA’s top two pitchers dealing with injuries, this is a positive sign to see, and could help convince the Dodgers he’s ready to potentially get the start. With Kershaw potentially missing time, the Dodgers have plenty of arms they can turn to as their No. 5 starter. Julio Urias has been terrific this spring, and looks as if he’s ready to finally slide into the rotation. Roberts has said that he envisions Urias joining the rotation, so this could be an easy fit. If not, the Dodgers can also turn to Ross Stripling, who made 21 starts last season. There’s still plenty of time to decide what to do if you’re the Dodgers. Three weeks is a lot of time, and a lot can change for Kershaw during that stretch. If he feels fully healthy, and feels confident going out there for game one Dennis Eckersley Jersey , by all means he should go for it. However, if he’s not 100 percent, the Dodgers will be in good hands until he’s fully healthy enough to come back, and shouldn’t risk further injury with their ace. Brian Duensing is a year older, rule changes, and other meritorious fare to reward a casual perusal"Ah, BCB writers have dedication if nothing else. I write this live from TMC Hospital in Tucson, having suffered a sudden weird spike in blood sugar (I’m diabetic), and as always on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, I bring a wildly popular Cubs-centric look at baseball’s past. Here’s a handy Cubs timeline, to help you follow along as we review select scenes from the rich tapestry of Chicago Cubs and Major League Baseball history. The embedded links often point to articles that I’ve chosen as illustrative of the scenes, from The Society for American Baseball Research, reproductions of period newspapers, images, and other such material. It’s all lightly unpacked and tidied up, just for you.You might learn something, but mostly, it’s for fun!Today in baseball history:1889 - Italy’s King Humbert is among the fans who witness the Chicagos beat the All-Americans, 3-2 Santiago Casilla Jersey , outside of Rome at the Villa Borghese. Originally billed as the Spalding’s Australian Baseball Tour, the trip is expanded to include contests in Europe, much to the surprise of the captive players aboard ship en route to the Land Down Under. (1)1945 - At the major league meetings, the owners cancel the 1945 All-Star Game scheduled to be played at Boston’s Fenway Park on July 10th. Even after the cancellation, schedule-makers leave the dates of July 9, 10 and 11 open in case circumstances change, permitting the game. In place of the All-Star Game, eight simultaneous games pitting the National League vs. the American League are to be played. Seven are played, with the 8th being cancelled. Also approved is a rule change stating that a player needs 400 at bats to qualify for a batting title. (3)2005 - Tom Umberg, a California state assemblyman, introduces legislation which would require pro franchises to use disclaimers if they do not play the majority of home games in the location used in their name. With his ‘Truth in Sports Advertising Act,’ the Anaheim Democrat is trying to prevent the local team from changing its name to Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. (1)More info.2017 - Major League Baseball adopts a significant rule change, as part of a strategy to speed up the game: a pitcher will no longer need to throw four pitches deliberately outside the strike zone in order to issue an intentional walk, but instead the defensive team’s manager will simply need to signal his intention to the home plate umpire, who will immediately direct the batter to advance to first base. However, given that there is on average one intentional walk every 2.5 games, the change is expected to have only a minimal impact on playing time. (3)Cubs birthdays: Steve Barber, Eric Yelding, Brian Duensing. Also notable: George “Sparky” Anderson (HoF).Sources:(1) — The National Pastime.(2) — Today in Baseball History.(3) — Baseball Reference.(4) — Society for American Baseball Research.(5) — Baseball Hall of Fame.Thanks for reading. #Cubsnews