Note: With the DL sheets at the end of the article, teams are still adding players to the DL (and making last minute roster moves). MLB.com is trying to keep up, but the list of transactions is behind. I will keep the list of possible DL players for this article and then finally remove them later this week.

• Clayton Kershaw goes on the disabled list for the first time in his career with a sore back.

…Kershaw was scratched from starting Sunday night’s domestic opener because of an inflamed teres major muscle, which stabilizes the upper arm near the upper back. Now, he also will miss his projected start for the home opener against the Giants on Friday.
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And they believe placing him on the DL is the smart thing to do. Especially with four off-days within this portion of the schedule’s first 13 days, and no fifth starter needed until April 19.
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Kershaw would be eligible to come off of the disabled list early the following week — the move is backdated to March 23 — but the Dodgers are making no promises about when he will pitch again. Mainly, because there is little urgency in the season’s first few weeks given the spate of off-days, and because they want to remain ultra-conservative and make sure Kershaw is right when he returns.

It seems like the injury just needs time. It seems like April 19th may be the day to expect him back.

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• Four articles looking at the seemingly increase in pitcher injuries have recently been published.

• Clayton Kershaw will miss the Dodgers second opening day with an inflamed neck/back/shoulder.

 Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw was scratched from Sunday night’s start because of an inflamed teres major muscle, which stabilizes the upper arm near the upper back.

Kershaw underwent an MRI on Wednesday that showed the inflammation. A Dodgers news release indicated that Kershaw complained of discomfort playing catch at Tuesday’s workout. He wouldn’t say if he felt the discomfort while throwing 102 pitches in the season-opening win in Australia.
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Kershaw said he “didn’t think” the compressed Spring Training, necessitated by the trip to Australia, “had anything to do with” his injury, nor did the long flight.

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He said he feels the discomfort when he brings his arm forward “accelerating.”

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• Jurickson Profar will miss 10 to 12 weeks with a shoulder tear with some baseball activities beginning in four to six weeks. The Rangers middle infield situation is a mess with Elvis Andrus (sore forearm) also hurt. The Rangers should be making some announcements today as they figure out how they will fill the 2B gap for at least half the season.

• Manny Machado will start the season on the DL and will be ready “… sometime in April” according to Buck Showalter.

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• A cascade of pitcher injuries has happened the past few days. Here are a couple of  links looking what can be done to help prevent injuries.

• On the main FanGraphs site, Mike Pertriello looked at how how many of these pitchers were trying to throw through in game pain.
• Peter Gammons mentions some crack pots work on using PITCHf/x data to look at detecting possible pitcher injuries.

While these  injuries seemed to happen all at once, the pitchers did have a chance to end up injured.

Name: DL%, extra injury indicator
Patrick Corbin: 30%
Parker: 30%, low Zone%
Medlen: 40%
Beachy: Never re-established himself after TJS. About 30% pitchers never do.

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• Kris Medlen looks to be out at least a couple of months for a torn ulnar collateral ligament.

Medlen underwent an MRI exam on Monday that showed damage around the ulnar collateral ligament of his right elbow. A stress X-ray conducted on Tuesday provided a stronger indication that the ligament damage will need to be surgically repaired.

A definitive decision will likely be made within the next two days. The process has been slowed due to the fact that Dr. James Andrews, who performed Medlen’s Tommy John surgery in 2010, is among the contingent of orthopedic surgeons currently attending a conference in New Orleans.

“That stress X-ray is not definitive, but it did probably confirm what he was fearing — that there is a high likelihood he will have to have another Tommy John,” Braves general manager Frank Wren said.

More information will be available today (maybe even before this article runs).

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• Kris Medlen experienced a right forearm strain during his last outing. He was not yet to the 400-600 IP point  where Tommy John pitchers begin having a second round of injuries (2013 The Hardball Times Annual).  More information on the injuries extent will be available later today.

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• Cole Hamels looks to miss even more time with “fatigue”.

Cole Hamels suffers setback. Said he is fatigued. No pain in shoulder. But obviously not good news. Wouldn’t say if he could pitch in April.

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Holy cow, a ton of news to catch up on so let’s get started.

• Johnny Cueto hasn’t lost the twist, but he says he is feeling good.

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Besides going through the normal injuries, I decided to give a detailed injury outlook for a  starting pitcher. Today’s pitcher is Clay Buchholz (a Paul Swydan request), but please let me know if you want anyone else. I am now sure how many I will have time for in the future, but I will try.

• Josh Hamilton may not be ready to go for the regular season after injuring his ankle.

Asked if he believes Hamilton will get enough Spring Training action to be ready to go by Opening Day on March 31, Scioscia said: “Under the guidelines we’ve been given, he should, but this thing has to heal on its own terms and we’ll just see where this leads.”

Hamilton is so frustrating. I am glad someone else usually believes in him (and Matt Kemp) more than me during drafts, so I don’t have to live with the fustration.

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• A report stated Ike Davis supposedly hid an oblique injury from the Mets because he was worried about his job.

Ike Davis concealed an oblique injury from Mets officials for most of last season because of bad timing and the fact he was struggling and didn’t want to surrender his spot in the lineup, the beleaguered first baseman told The Post on Sunday.

Ultimately, his season concluded on Aug. 31 in Washington when the oblique “popped,” but Davis’ issues with the muscle began in mid-May and got to the point he was ready to ask for a disabled-list stint.

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