When the Los Angeles Dodgers placed Clayton Kershaw on the 10-day injured list since May 13 due to right SI joint inflammation, there was initial optimism he would only miss the minimum required time.
However, Kershaw’s back pain did not respond to receiving an epidural. He instead needed to give the injury more time to recover through rest, which delayed a return. After resuming throwing and completing two bullpen sessions, Kershaw joined Single-A Rancho Cucamonga for a rehab assignment.
He threw 59 pitches over four innings, allowing a solo home run but also finishing with seven strikeouts against just one walk. Kershaw didn’t suffer any setbacks in the ensuing days and was penciled in to come off the IL for the series finale against the San Francisco Giants.
However, the Dodgers have instead decided to activate Kershaw on Saturday to push Julio Urías back for an extra day of rest before his next start, according to Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic:
Clayton Kershaw starts for the Dodgers tomorrow, Dave Roberts said. Want to give Julio Urías the extra day.
— Fabian Ardaya (@FabianArdaya) June 11, 2022
Urías threw 90 pitches — his second-most this season — but only managed to pitch 5.1 innings of an eventual 5-4 loss for the Dodgers in extras his last time out.
Urías held the New York Mets to one run despite issuing three walks to go along with three hits.
“Just the damage. That’s where the frustration comes,” Urías said through an interpreter after the game. “I fell a little short today. Especially after all the work the bullpen has done, just the damage, and the outing was too short.”
While the order for the final two games at Oracle Park has changed, the Dodgers are keeping with sending their three most accomplished starters to the mound against the Giants as Walker Buehler takes the ball in the series opener.
San Francisco elected to move Logan Webb up one day from his scheduled start despite his success last season against the Dodgers.
Clayton Kershaw’s career at Oracle Park
Kershaw historically has pitched well in San Francisco, where he is a lifetime 14-5 with a 1.52 ERA over 26 games (24 starts). Kershaw’s 14 wins at AT&T Park/Oracle Park are his most in any visiting stadium.
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