Dodgers' Clayton Kershaw Scratched from Game 2 Start vs. Braves with Back Injury

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw has been scratched from Game 2 of the National Championship Series against the Atlanta Braves with back spasms, the team announced Tuesday.

Right-hander Tony Gonsolin will start in place of Kershaw.

It's not clear when Kershaw will be healthy enough to pitch next, though manager Dave Roberts has already ruled out the possibility that he starts Game 3 on Wednesday. However, according to MLB Network's Jon Morosi, the Dodgers are "optimistic" Kershaw will be healthy enough to start Game 4.

"The likelihood is very good," Roberts said Tuesday in regards to the possibility that Kershaw pitches at some point in the NLCS.

Julio Urias will start Game 3 on Wednesday. The 24-year-old southpaw has made two appearances this postseason, both out of the bullpen. He has allowed one unearned run on four hits while striking out 11 in eight innings.

Kershaw's season got off to a turbulent start when the ace was scratched on Opening Day in July with a back injury. He finally made his debut Aug. 2, tossing 5.2 innings with six strikeouts, three hits and no runs in a 3-0 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Kershaw compiled a 2.16 ERA and 0.84 WHIP with 62 strikeouts in 58.1 innings in 10 regular-season starts. More notably, he had performed well to this point in the postseason, going 2-0 while allowing just three runs in 14 innings and striking out 19 in two starts through the first two rounds.

Losing Kershaw, especially with the way he has been pitching this October, is a major blow to a Dodgers squad that needs a win Tuesday. Atlanta took the first game of the series, 5-1, on Monday.

Gonsolin went 2-2 with a 2.31 ERA in nine appearances this season, including eight starts. He struck out 46 batters in 46.2 innings.