When Clayton Kershaw last started for the Los Angeles Dodgers, he suffered just his second loss of the season and the club fell to eight games back of the San Francisco Giants in the National League West standings.
Kershaw was subsequently placed on the 15-day disabled list with a mild disc herniation, and the Dodgers have defied logic in the time since. Aided by the Giants owning a Major League Baseball-worst 9-21 record after the All-Star break, the Dodgers have surged to the top of the NL West.
All the while the organization and Kershaw remained mum on any timeline for a return. The left-handed ace was initially recovering ahead of schedule, but suffered a setback after throwing a simulated game on July 16.
That Kershaw forced Kershaw to halt his recovery and focus on core and back strengthening exercises. He recently began throwing, with the media witnessing him do so for three consecutive days.
Kershaw did reveal the stretch was part of a week-long period where he had been throwing.
After recently alluding to his ace perhaps soon advancing to work off a mound, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Kershaw will join the club on their road trip and is expected to throw a bullpen session, per Bill Plunkett of the OC Register:
Corrected version of that Kershaw news — he will join #Dodgers in Cincinnati, throw off flat ground again Fri then bullpen session Sat
— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) August 18, 2016
It was initially reported Kershaw’s bullpen session was scheduled for Friday. After throwing at Great American Ball Park, Kershaw confirmed he will move forward with Saturday’s bullpen session:
#Dodgers Clayton Kershaw says "No problems yet. Still feel normal." Looking fwd to throwing bullpen session tomorrow.
— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) August 19, 2016
Assuming he gets through the bullpen session without back soreness creeping up, Kershaw presumably would continue advancing toward a simulated game and eventual return.
The Dodgers transferred him to the 60-day disabled list just over two weeks ago, which makes Aug. 27 the earliest date Kershaw can be activated, though coming off the DL at that time isn’t plausible.
Roberts has previously stated he expects the 28-year-old to return at some point in September, which Kershaw has generally corroborated. He’s 11-2 this season with a 1.79 ERA, 217 ERA+ and 0.73 WHIP.
