The Los Angeles Dodgers re-signed Clayton Kershaw in the offseason with the expectation that he was not going to be ready to contribute to their rotation at any point during the first half of 2024.
It was one of the reasons that the Dodgers’ front office was so aggressive in addressing starting pitching depth as a whole. Nevertheless, the Dodgers have six different staring pitchers on the injured list and up until recently had a rotation that was among the top in baseball during the early stages of the season.
Offseason acquisitions Tyler Glasnow, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and James Paxton have all impressed at different moments. The new arms the Dodgers collected have allowed the Kershaw to be patient in how he attacks the rehab process.
Kershaw has continued to long toss in recent weeks and should advance to getting off a mound during May, according to Bill Plunkett of the Southern California News Group:
“At some point in May, he expects to progress to throwing off a mound for the first time since the surgery.”
Kershaw, Walker Buehler, Emmet Sheehan, Dustin May, Bobby Miller and Tony Gonsolin are the group of Dodgers starters on the IL. Miller is hopeful to return in the near future and Buehler possibly could as well.
Kershaw, Sheehan and May then could comprise a second wave of reinforcements for the rotation.
What Clayton Kershaw returning means for Dodgers rotation
Gavin Stone and Paxton have at times performed admirably in their respective roles as fourth and fifth starters. If they are still pitching well when the time comes for the return of Buehler, Kershaw and Sheehan, it would present the Dodgers with possibly needing to make difficult decisions with their rotation.
If the Dodgers wish to continue utilizing a six-man rotation as the season progresses, they could make it more formal by inserting an actual starter instead of the current bullpen game substitute. However, that scenario still leaves two on the outside looking in.
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