Clayton Kershaw pitched in a game Saturday night for the first time since June 26, allowing one hit (infield single) and throwing 34 pitches over three scoreless innings for High-A Rancho Cucamonga.
Kershaw finished with five strikeouts and completed his night’s work by throwing in the bullpen to get to 50 pitches. The start came four days after Kershaw threw two innings during a simulated game at Dodger Stadium.
“I felt good. I was able to warm up and sit in between innings, stuff that’s kind of bothered me in the past,” he said from the Quakes clubhouse.
“It was definitely a good test. It was fun to kind of pitch in a game setting again and have a normal game-type situation. It was definitely fun to be back out there. I feel good right now, hopefully it stays this way throughout the night.”
Kershaw said he was scheduled to start again in “four or five days,” but didn’t clarify whether that would come in the form of another rehab start or with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
“We’re still kind of ironing some stuff out,” he added. “At this point it’s more of a pitch count deal and making sure I can contribute and not just kind of go out there. We’re still working the kinks out, but we’ll see.”
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts confirmed Sunday the next time his ace steps foot on the mound will be in the Majors, with Kershaw slated to start Friday’s series opener against the Miami Marlins.
Roberts previously said Kershaw negotiated with the club to only go out on one rehab assignment.
By starting Friday, Kershaw is on scheduled turns to face the New York Yankees (Sept. 14), San Francisco Giants (Sept. 19), Colorado Rockies (Sept. 24) and either the San Diego Padres (Sept. 29) or the Giants a second time (Sept. 30).
