Dodgers’ Clayton Kershaw’s mother dies; Kershaw still with team

LOS ANGELES — The mother of Clayton Kershaw, Marianne Tombaugh, died on Saturday.

Kershaw’s wife, Ellen, made mention of the death during a ceremony to dedicate another Dodgers Dreamfield Saturday in Inglewood sponsored by the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation and Kershaw’s Challenge, the charity founded and funded by Clayton and Ellen.

In her remarks, Ellen Kershaw credited Clayton’s mother as the one who “cultivated” a love for baseball in him from a young age and “moved mountains” as a single mother to make sure he got to practices and games. Clayton’s mother and father divorced when he was 10 years old. His father, Christopher Kershaw, died in 2013.

“She sat in the front row cheering him on not so subtly and kept score in a book to keep her nerves at bay,” Ellen Kershaw said of Clayton’s mother.

“She experienced no greater joy than watching her son grow into the man, the philanthropist, the father and the ballplayer that he is today.”

Clayton Kershaw went through his usual pre-game workout at Dodger Stadium Sunday and was one of 10 Dodgers players who participated in a pre-game ceremony with their mothers or wives to celebrate Mother’s Day.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Kershaw is expected to make his next scheduled start on Tuesday against the Minnesota Twins.

“I’m sure this is a day that he has a heavy heart,” Roberts said. “Then once he makes his start I’m sure there will be some things that are going to take place that he’s going to take part in if that’s what they choose.”

Kershaw could go on the bereavement list after Tuesday’s game in order to be with his family.

SYNDERGAARD STATUS

Right-hander Noah Syndergaard said his injured index finger felt “good” after testing it in an extended bullpen session on Saturday, and he is expected to make his scheduled start on Monday against the Twins.

Skipped in the rotation once and removed from his most recent start after just one inning due to his finger issue, Syndergaard has pitched only that one inning over the past 14 days. But he said that hasn’t made him any more anxious to pitch than normal.

“(It’s) the same level of excitement for any start,” he said. “I’m always excited to pitch.”

Roberts said the Dodgers will have no extra contingency plan to prepare for another potentially short start from Syndergaard if the blister on his finger opens up again. Syndergaard has been using Dermabond to seal the damaged skin.

“Yesterday’s pen, he came out of it well,” Roberts said. “Today he put some stuff on it and got through catch play. I think right now we’re good to go.

“We’ll have to adapt with the guys we have (if Syndergaard has to leave the game early). But I think all of us have confidence that he will be able to go deep in the game and pitch efficiently.”

Right-hander Gavin Stone was scratched from his scheduled start for Triple-A Oklahoma City Sunday and would have been an option to make Syndergaard’s start if Syndergaard was unable to pitch Monday. Now, Stone could be inserted into the rotation for a spot start when Kershaw goes on the bereavement list.

UP NEXT

Twins (RHP Pablo Lopez, 2-2, 3.47 ERA) at Dodgers (RHP Noah Syndergaard, 1-3, 6.12 ERA), Monday, 7:10 p.m., SportsNet LA, 570 AM

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