The Dodgers sidelined Clayton Kershaw for the week with shoulder pain

CHICAGO – Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw is sidelined for a week with persistent pain after returning from surgery on his left shoulder.

Kershaw, 36, underwent an MRI, which showed “no new incidents,” manager Dave Roberts said before Monday’s game against the Chicago White Sox.

“You are undergoing surgery. You are undergoing rehabilitation. You start throwing. You increase the speed, you increase the load,” Roberts said, “and there’s bound to be some pain and that’s where we’re at.

“We then do a scan to see if there has been a new incident, and there hasn’t been, so we feel very comfortable and confident that it’s just a blip.”

Kershaw underwent surgery on his throwing shoulder in November, a month after he recorded just one run in Game 1 of the National League Division Series against the Arizona Diamondbacks. The three-time NL Cy Young Award winner re-signed with Los Angeles in February, remaining with his only major league club.

Kershaw began his rehabilitation with Single-A Rancho Cucamonga on Wednesday night, throwing 37 pitches while working in three one-run innings. He was expected to throw four innings Tuesday in his second start for Triple-A Oklahoma City.

After a week off from throwing, Kershaw will start to hit his stride again.

“A week is not long enough to worry about reducing the buildup that has already built up,” Roberts said. “But I think it’s a way to get healthy and get rid of the pain, so that’s the most important thing.”

Los Angeles leads the NL West once again, but has been plagued by significant injuries this month. Mookie Betts broke his left arm after being hit on the field on June 16. Yoshinobu Yamamoto (rotator cuff strain) and Walker Buehler (hip inflammation) were placed on the 15-day injured list, eliminating right-handed players from the team’s rotation for now.

The Dodgers were without outfielder Teoscar Hernández to open the three-game series in Chicago. Roberts said Hernández flew to the Dominican Republic for personal reasons but is expected to return on Tuesday.

Kershaw’s next steps will depend on how he feels when he starts throwing again, Roberts said.

“When he starts playing catch, there will definitely be a pen or two, and I assume in my case he will go back to rehab,” Roberts said. “But again, it’s Clayton and the coaching staff who will do the talking.”

Midfielder Max Muncy, who is on a 60-day sideline with an oblique injury, is working with medicine balls and is expected to swing the bat this week. Roberts said he thinks Muncy will be back with the team soon after the All-Star break.

Muncy has not played in a major league game since May 15. Hit. Last year, the Dodgers recorded 212 points, 36 runs scored and a career-high 105 RBIs.