When the Los Angeles Dodgers shut Clayton Kershaw down during Spring Training because of inflammation in his throwing shoulder, they initially maintained he would still make a scheduled start on Opening Day.
Doing so would extend Kershaw’s franchise record of consecutive Opening Day starts to nine. Instead, he was eventually ruled out and began the season on the 10-day injured list. It was retroactive to March 25, which made April 4 the first day Kershaw was eligible to be activated.
Though, indications were he would miss at least a couple weeks. After pitching in multiple simulated games and bullpen sessions, the three-time Cy Young Award winner went out on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Oklahoma City last week.
Kershaw came away from the outing expecting to make another rehab start, which Dodgers manager Dave Roberts confirmed. After considering the options, it’s been decided it will take place with Double-A Tulsa, per Ken Gurnick of MLB.com:
Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw said he will make his second Minor League rehabilitation start on Tuesday night at Double-A Tulsa.
Kershaw said he selected Tulsa over Triple-A Oklahoma City, which plays in Omaha, because of a favorable weather forecast, as well as better facilities being at home with the Drillers rather than on the road with OKC.
Kershaw allowed two runs on four hits (one home run), and had six strikeouts and two walks over 4.1 innings in his first outing of the year. He threw 61 pitches and is expected to increase that to 75-80 in the start for the Drillers.
The Dodgers have not yet specified, but it can be presumed Kershaw will join their rotation if all goes well Tuesday night. If the left-hander remains on schedule, it would mean facing the Milwaukee Brewers in Sunday’s series finale at Dodger Stadium.
