Clayton Kershaw remains tentatively scheduled to make a rehab start for Triple-A Oklahoma City on Tuesday, but there is the potential for change.
Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts revealed Kershaw threw a “light” bullpen session on Saturday and is experiencing left shoulder soreness since his start with Single-A Rancho Cucamonga last week.
“I know there was a little bit of soreness after his last outing, so we’ll see what that means going forward,” Roberts said of Kershaw’s plans for this week.
“It’s going to be see how he feels. For me, it’s going to be talking to him, talking to the training staff and making sure he feels good to make it. Catch play [Sunday], if it feels good, great. If it doesn’t, we’ll just keep kicking it down the road until he’s ready.”
Kershaw threw 36 pitches (26 strikes) over three innings in his start for the Quakes on June 19. He allowed one run on two hits and collected five strikeouts while issuing just one walk.
“I think it was good,” Kershaw said after exiting the game. “I checked off a lot of boxes, got through three innings. First time in a game setting and all those things. So it was fun to get back out there, I hadn’t done that in a while.
“So as long as everything comes out tomorrow fine, I think I’m on for the next one.”
The start represented Kershaw’s first time pitching in a game since Oct. 7, 2023, when he retired just one batter in the National League Division Series.
The plan for Kershaw has been to continue adding one inning with each outing and make a minimum of three starts before potentially joining the Dodgers’ rotation.
At the time of Kershaw revealing he underwent left shoulder surgery, there was an expectation of returning to pitch at some point after the 2024 MLB All-Star Game.
Kershaw proceeded to re-sign with the Los Angeles Dodgers on a one-year contract that includes a player option for 2025. He and the Dodgers have maintained the rehab process would not be rushed, and the initial timeline indicated Kershaw would not return until August.
Roberts recently remarked the 35-year-old was ahead of schedule.
Clayton Kershaw values rehab starts
The longtime Dodgers ace has made no secret of how frustrating being injured is, and with that came a perception he is reluctant to complete a rehab assignment.
“I never said there isn’t any value in it. There’s a ton of value in doing rehab starts, it’s just no fun,” Kershaw clarified.
“The pitches that you throw, you want to make them count in the big leagues. That’s my goal, obviously, is to get back and do that. Like I said before, it’s something you’ve got to do and they make it great here for me. Family came out, so it was a great experience. So far, at least.”
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