Clayton Kershaw and Brandon McCarthy were put on the 10-day disabled list at the same time, and while the former is set to return this weekend, the latter remains on the comeback trail. McCarthy was officially put on the DL, retroactive to July 21, with a blister on the third finger of his right hand.
It was believed to have played a part in some of his ineffectiveness leading up to and after the All-Star break, though was also an issue McCarthy dealt with since Spring Training. He never blamed the blister for any troubles and instead simply put the burden on himself to pitch better.
McCarthy threw a bullpen session in late July and began a rehab assignment last week with High-A Rancho Cucamonga. He went three hitless innings and recorded two strikeouts, but also issued three walks.
According to Bill Shaikin of the L.A. Times, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said McCarthy was not satisfied with his performance:
Roberts said Brandon McCarthy “wasn’t completely encouraged” by his rehabilitation start Friday, when he walked three batters in three scoreless innings for Class-A Rancho Cucamonga.
McCarthy is expected to make another rehab start with the Quakes on Wednesday. That would leave him on track to be reinstated in September, once active rosters expand.
This season he’s 6-4 with a 3.84 ERA and 1.23 WHIP in 16 starts. McCarthy failed to complete five innings in three of four outings leading up to his DL stint.
That was in far contrast to a previous stretch of the season, when McCarthy established himself as a consistent starter for the Dodgers and was on pace to have the best ERA of his career.
