The Los Angeles Dodgers have already cycled several players through High-A Rancho Cucamonga on rehab assignments, and the trend continues Friday night with Kenta Maeda taking the mound for the Quakes.
Maeda is expected to throw four innings or 60 pitches against the Visalia Rawhide (Arizona Diamondbacks affiliate) at LoanMart Field. Just like his DL stint, the rehab start will be the first of Maeda’s career.
“It’s been kind of a long layoff for Kenta,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “We talked to him, and he was open to [the rehab start].
“Some time next week he’ll be back in the rotation. It will be against the Cardinals, we’re just trying to decide which day.”
Maeda has been on the 10-day disabled list since May 11 due to left hamstring tightness. He’s eligible to be activated Sunday, though the Dodgers are instead starting Brandon McCarthy in the series finale against the Miami Marlins.
Los Angeles has an off day Monday, and Clayton Kershaw is scheduled to start Tuesday on five days’ rest. Maeda would be lined up to face the Cardinals on Wednesday, though the Dodgers could also hand the ball to Rich Hill or Hyun-Jin Ryu.
Maeda this season is 3-2 with a 5.03 ERA, 4.34 FIP and 1.17 WHIP in seven starts. He tossed a career-high 8.1 innings the night prior to landing on the disabled list. Roberts said the right-hander had pitched through hamstring tightness for multiple weeks.
