Clayton Kershaw completed his third overall rehab start of the year with the Triple-A Oklahoma City Comets on Wednesday without incident after he was scratched from a scheduled outing the day prior due to inclement weather.
Kershaw has been on a steady progression which each start, beginning with 30 pitches and doubling that total in his second rehab outing. Kershaw could have gone longer theoretically in this latest start.
The Los Angeles Dodgers targeted either 75 pitches for Kershaw or five innings, seemingly whichever came first.
After laboring some through three-plus innings with Double-A Tulsa, Kershaw’s results were more in-line with his first outing for the Comets on April 16.
Kershaw was scoreless through his first four innings against the Triple-A El Paso Chihuahuas before losing some steam at the end on Tuesday, but he felt the outing was a win overall.
“It was OK. The fifth inning got a little long there, I made some bad pitches. Overall, there are some bright spots with everything. Just keep progressing. Got a couple more. I’ll be back here on Tuesday,” Kershaw said.
The lineup for the Chihuahuas is pretty seasoned for a Minor League team, with Tim Locastro, Mike Brosseau and Luis Campusano having 702 games of combined Major League experience. It showed on Wednesday, with Campusano and Brosseau homering off Kershaw in his final inning of work.
“I’ve faced a lot of those guys. It’s a good Triple-A lineup, for sure. It’s good to have big league experience over there. It kind of gives you a good idea of where you’re at,” Kershaw said. “Obviously, made some mistakes since they hit some homers. Both of those guys have done that before. It’s always good to face guys that you know have big league experience.”
Originally, the Dodgers planned for Kershaw to start Tuesday and Sunday. Because of the first game getting rained out, his schedule has been adjusted some.
“Yeah, I’ll be back here. I guess I shouldn’t say Tuesday. I don’t know exactly what day, but I’ll be back here at least next week at some point,” Kershaw said.
Clayton Kershaw praises Dalton Rushing
Top Dodgers prospect Dalton Rushing continues to develop as a catcher, with it being the role the team expects for him in the future even with Will Smith on the roster. While Rushing’s bat is very much Major League ready, it is important that he learn to handle a Major League pitching staff.
“Rush did great. Worked hard back there, he knew the hitters, studied, he was prepared. That was my first time ever throwing to him — bullpen, Spring Training, anywhere. I thought he did a good job,” Kershaw said.
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