The Los Angeles Dodgers re-signed Clayton Kershaw this past offseason with the expectation he would be a midseason addition after undergoing surgery to repair his left knee and left toe.
Kershaw began throwing bullpen sessions in Spring Training and mentioned June as a rough target for his 2025 debut. But he ended up going out on a rehab assignment in early April, and Kershaw has now completed three starts.
He has made two starts for Triple-A Oklahoma City and one with the Double-A Tulsa Drillers, and the next steps have now been laid out for the left-hander.
Kershaw is expected to pitch at the Dodgers Spring Training facility in Arizona on Tuesday before getting another rehab start roughly a week later, via Bill Plunkett of the Southern California News Group:
After having his most recent rehab start postponed by bad weather, Clayton Kershaw is scheduled to pitch on Tuesday at the Dodgers’ complex in Glendale, Arizona. He is expected to make one more rehab start after that next Sunday or Monday.
Kershaw is eligible to be activated off the 60-day injured list on May 17. With his next rehab start, coming on Sunday, May 11, or Monday, May 12, that lines him up for his next start six days later on either May 17 or May 18.
With the Dodgers in need of starting pitching, it appears likely that Kershaw will return when he’s eligible, or shortly after that day.
Kershaw threw five innings and 66 pitches in his last rehab outing, so he could push to the 80-pitch mark in his next appearance. That would be enough for him to be considered fully stretched out and ready to go for a Major League start.
Clayton Kershaw adding to pitch mix?
During his rehab, Kershaw has been working on his sinker and changeup, potentially giving him two more pitches to attack hitters with. That could prove to be effective with the limited velocity on his fastball.
Kershaw has rarely used his sinker or changeup in games before, but he understands the need to adjust and adapt as he gets older and his stuff diminishes.
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