Los Angeles Dodgers manager Don Mattingly believes that the club's ace Clayton Kershaw could pitch again in 2012, according to Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times.
The left-hander met with hip specialist Dr. Bryan Kelly in New York on Tuesday, and while Mattingly remained optimistic, he did note that there is cause for concern over Kershaw's ailing right hip.
Mattingly concedes there's something "serious" in Kershaw's hip, just not any worse than it was before.
— Dylan Hernandez (@dylanohernandez) September 18, 2012
These comments come after early reports that Kershaw might be out until early 2013. The loss of Kershaw (12-9, 2.70) would be a devastating blow to the Dodgers' N.L. Wild Card hopes, as they currently trail the St. Louis Cardinals by one game for the second spot and are already without starters Chad Billingsley and Ted Lilly.
Stephen Fife will remain in Kershaw's spot in the Dodgers' rotation for the time being, per Hernandez.
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