Dodgers' Roberts: Kershaw questionable for Opening Day

The Los Angeles Dodgers' Opening Day starter might be named something other than Clayton Kershaw for the first time since 2010.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said on Monday that his ace may not be ready for the team's regular-season opener on March 28.

Roberts mentioned, though, that the 30-year-old left-hander is "trending in the right direction," according to Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times.

Kershaw has been dealing with soreness in his left shoulder for more than a week but felt good enough to play catch on Monday, and his tosses have gotten firmer each day, reports MLB.com's Ken Gurnick.

"The No. 1 thing is for Clayton to be ready and confident mentally and physically," Roberts said, according to Gurnick. "There's just way too much importance on the Opening Day roster."

If healthy, Kershaw is expected to make his ninth consecutive Opening Day start for the Dodgers. If he's unable to pitch, Roberts can pick from a handful of other candidates including Walker Buehler, Hyun-Jin Ryu, Rich Hill, or Kenta Maeda.

Kershaw appeared in 26 games for the Dodgers in 2018, going 9-5 with a 2.73 ERA and 1.04 WHIP across 161 1/3 innings.