The Los Angeles Dodgers recently announced that Clayton Kershaw — who has yet to pitch this season after undergoing offseason shoulder surgery — is making a huge step toward a return by beginning a rehab assignment on Wednesday with Single-A Rancho Cucamonga.
This comes after a simulated game at Dodger Stadium on Thursday where he began to mix in multiple pitches.
This is big news for a Dodgers rotation that has not been fully healthy at any point this season and recently got troubling news about Yoshinobu Yamamoto as he is dealing with a strained rotator cuff.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts spoke about Kershaw’s mindset heading to Rancho Cucamonga for his first rehab start and how excited the veteran starter is.
“It’s great. It’s great,” Roberts said. “I think he’s already over the whole rehab process, but at least to get in a situation where it’s game-like, it is a game, I know he’s looking forward to that.”
Kershaw has missed large chunks of the regular season with frequency over the past few seasons, but that has not made it any easier for the legendary Dodgers’ pitcher.
He is one of the game’s fiercest competitors and has to be thrilled that he is making one big step towards getting back into Major League action.
This could possibly be Kershaw’s final season, and with that being the case, he likely wants to contribute for as much of the season as he possibly can. And while L.A. is going to be cautious to get him back, a solid showing at his first rehab start could expedite the process.
Dodgers adding another pitcher to rotation
The Dodgers can look forward to the return of one of their already injured pitchers as Bobby Miller is set to return for the Dodgers during their upcoming series against the Colorado Rockies.
Using Tyler Glasnow, Miller, James Paxton, Walker Buehler and Gavin Stone with the regular bullpen game figures to be L.A.’s strategy until Kershaw returns. At that point, they’ll decide on a six-man rotation as opposed to swapping out a starter and continuing to utilize the bullpen.
When it’s all said and done, a six-man rotation of Glasnow, Miller, Yamamoto, Buehler, Kershaw and Paxton would be the ideal scenario.
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