LOS ANGELES – Taking a 100.5 mph line drive to the back is something that will stick with you for awhile.

“Doesn’t feel great,” Dodgers closer Craig Kimbrel said the day after Jake Cronenworth’s drive back to the mound caught Kimbrel just under the right shoulder blade. “But nothing’s broken. That was the first thing I wanted to know. Once I found that out, I could be upset about my outing.”

There was enough to be upset about. Kimbrel stayed in the game and gave up three consecutive hits as a 1-0 Dodger lead turned into a 4-2 loss. It was Kimbrel’s third blown save in his past seven chances.

“A little disappointed that happened and everything that came after that,” Kimbrel said.

What came before it was actually some of Kimbrel’s best pitching as a Dodger. In his two appearances before Sunday against the Padres, Kimbrel had 1-2-3 innings – the first time since the first homestand of the season that he had back-to-back outings where he retired the side in order.

“I think that’s part of the frustration too. I felt like I had really just started putting my foot down and getting on a roll,” Kimbrel said. “Then a line drive off the back – it’s frustrating.”

Kimbrel said the difference recently has been better timing in his mechanics. Pitching more often has helped.

“It’s just timing,” he said. “Just trusting getting my foot down and going toward the plate, trusting the ball was going to go where it needs to go. And it has been. It’s shown signs of being really great and signs of not. Once this back heals up and I get on the mound, I can get back to being good.”

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said he expects to give Kimbrel a few days off to let his bruised back heal. Who handles the closing role in Kimbrel’s absence will be a situational decision. But Roberts reasserted that he is “not even considering” changing Kimbrel’s role despite a 6.28 ERA over his past 15 appearances.

“It was a funky spring for him in getting here to this point,” Roberts said of Kimbrel who was acquired in a trade two days before the Dodgers broke spring camp in Glendale. “I think for us it’s just looking forward. The recency has been really good. I think he’s been in the zone a lot more. The velocity, the stuff has been really good. So with Craig, it’s an easy bet.”

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ALL-STAR CASE

Dodgers left-hander Clayton Kershaw has been named to the National League All-Star team eight times during his career. But he has never started the game despite being deserving on more than one occasion. And he has never pitched in one at Dodger Stadium which hasn’t hosted the game since 1980.

“I don’t think there’s anybody more deserving to pitch an All-Star Game in Dodger Stadium,” Dodgers catcher Austin Barnes said. “That would be a really really cool thing for him and I think everybody.”

Roberts (who will be on the NL coaching staff with Braves manager Brian Snitker) has endorsed Kershaw’s candidacy, saying the 34-year-old left-hander wouldn’t want a “charity” selection just because the game is in his home stadium. Kershaw’s 5-2 record, 2.57 ERA and 1.05 WHIP through 10 starts make that a moot point.

“I would love to be honored, to be able to play,” Kershaw said. “But I also don’t want to take anybody’s spot that is more deserving.

“It’s at Dodger Stadium, I’ve been here a long time. I get all that. But I don’t want to take anybody’s spot that’s more deserving than me – especially if that guy’s on my team. If it works out, it’d be great. I’d love to.”

Right-hander Tony Gonsolin has to be considered a lock to be on the team and a strong candidate to start for the NL. Gonsolin was the National League’s first 10-game winner and leads the majors with a 1.54 ERA. Julio Urias and Tyler Anderson also deserve consideration to be on the NL pitching staff for the July 19 game.

ALSO

Zach McKinsty began a minor-league injury-rehabilitation assignment with Triple-A Oklahoma City Monday. McKinstry is on the Injured List with neck stiffness.

UP NEXT

Rockies (RHP German Marquez, 4-6, 5.89 ERA) at Dodgers (RHP Mitch White, 1-1, 3.93 ERA), Tuesday, 7:10 p.m., SportsNet LA, MLB Network, 570 AM