The Los Angeles Dodgers reinstated Clayton Kershaw from the 10-day disabled list and optioned Pat Venditte to Triple-A Oklahoma City. Kershaw returns to start in Thursday’s series finale against the Philadelphia Phillies.
Venditte heads back to Oklahoma City one day after he was recalled to take the place of Chase Utley on the active roster, as the veteran second baseman was put on the DL with a sprained left thumb. Venditte threw 30 pitches and allowed a run on two hits and one hit batter before getting through the ninth inning on Wednesday.
He’s allowed three runs in 3.2 innings (7.36 ERA) and pitched to a 1.36 WHIP across three relief appearances for the Dodgers. Venditte has fared much better for OKC, where he’s 2-0 with one save, a 1.25 ERA and 0.74 WHIP in 19 games.
Kershaw is activated after last having pitched May 1 against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Left biceps tendinitis forced him to the DL five days later, with the Dodgers not electing to backdate it.
The roster move came while the Dodgers were participating in the Mexico Series, and Kershaw returned to Los Angeles to undergo an MRI. Concerns gave way to optimism as the scan didn’t reveal any structural damage in his throwing shoulder or elbow.
Along with being a milder injury, the biceps tendinitis offered an explanation as to why the three-time Cy Young Award winner lacked his usual velocity and consistent effectiveness. Kershaw used the past month to hone in on his mechanics for the first time of his career.
He’s 1-4 with a 2.86 ERA, 3.68 FIP and 1.14 WHIP through seven starts this season. The Dodgers went 14-12 since their ace made his last start. His return comes on the heels of Kenta Maeda landing on the disabled list with a right hip strain.
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