Clayton Kershaw will begin his 18th season with the Los Angeles Dodgers on Saturday when he is activated off the 60-day injured list to start against the Los Angeles Angels in the Freeway Series.
Kershaw is working his way back from offseason left toe and left knee surgeries. He put off retirement by re-signing with the Dodgers on a one-year, $7.5 million contract.
Kershaw initially projected to be back on a Major League mound by June but instead will return ahead of schedule. And certainly at a moment of need for the Dodgers.
“It’s great. It’s a big shot in the arm,” manager Dave Roberts said of the left-hander rejoining the team.
“Clayton has worked really hard to get healthy. The bar is high for him. He doesn’t want to just come back to be active. He wants to come back and help us win baseball games and be good. I know he’s excited to contribute. Like I said, just getting number 22 back in the rotation is a huge shot in the arm for our ballclub.”
Kershaw is returning to the Dodgers after making five rehab starts split between Triple-A Oklahoma City (three), Double-A Tulsa (one) and the team’s Arizona Complex League affiliate. He allowed two earned runs or fewer in four of the outings.
“I was,” Roberts answered when asked if he was impressed by Kershaw’s success in the Minors. “I think the command the last time wasn’t to his standards or liking, but he still was very efficient, got the swing and miss.
“With Clayton, just being back, I think it adds an element of certainty and performance. So I’m not too concerned about anything outside of getting outs, and that’s kind of the message that I told him when I talked to him today.”
Kershaw’s return comes at a particularly opportune time for the Dodgers given Tyler Glasnow, Blake Snell and Roki Sasaki are all on the 15-day IL.
Clayton Kershaw ‘super excited’ for Dodgers return
Kershaw recently expressed excitement over his imminent return to the Dodgers and said he wants to be a difference maker for the team.
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