The Los Angeles Dodgers built a strong starting rotation during the offseason to help ease the burden on the likes of Walker Buehler and Clayton Kershaw, and take pressure off them to return.
Buehler expectedly returned to the Dodgers rotation ahead of Kershaw, but struggled and landed on the 15-day injured list with right hip inflammation. Now Kershaw is poised to make his 2024 debut on Thursday against the San Francisco Giants.
He’s coming off the 60-day injured list after making just three starts on a rehab assignment. There had been the possibility of Kershaw making another start for a Minor League affiliate before the Dodgers decided on bringing him back this week.
It’s a scenario the longtime ace had said he was eager for and is determined to be additive for the Dodgers.
“I never expected just to try to come back and not help or contribute. I wanted to come back and be a part of something special and contribute. Regardless of if we have eight starters or what we have now, I want to be a part of it and be one of the best five guys that we have,” Kershaw said after a second rehab start with Triple-A Oklahoma City.
“Go out there and pitch every fifth day and be good. That’s always been my mindset, regardless of what’s going on. But obviously right now we’re in a little bit of dire straits and we need to hold on a little bit. Like I said, if they need me now, I’ll be ready.”
Kershaw stretched out to four innings and may not yet be able to provide much length, but Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that’s a reality the team can still plan around.
In the time since Kershaw’s comments, the Dodgers designated James Paxton for assignment in order to make room in the rotation for River Ryan to make his MLB debut.
Kershaw is poised to enter a Dodgers rotation that has Tyler Glasnow and Gavin Stone as the only two pitchers from the group of starters on Opening Day.
Clayton Kershaw’s rehab assignments
In his three starts of a rehab assignment, Kershaw pitched a combined 10 innings with four runs allowed, eight hits, and 12 strikeouts to two walks.
His first outing was for Single-A Rancho Cucamonga on June 19, but that was followed by being shut down for a brief period because of lingering left shoulder soreness.
Kershaw then made two starts for the Oklahoma City Baseball Club without issue to pave the way for his return.
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