One day after Scott Kazmir and Hyun-Jin Ryu faced hitters, Clayton Kershaw and Alex Wood were the next Los Angeles Dodgers pitchers in line to throw their first live batting practice of 2017 Spring Training.
While each of left-handers is coming off a season that was marred by injury, Kershaw’s standing in the Dodgers’ rotation moving forward is on much more solid foundation. Conversely, Kazmir, Ryu and Wood are among the pitchers competing to fill out the final one or two spots.
Facing a select group of Minor League hitters is a task Kershaw does not long for, but it’s one that’s necessary as he prepares to take the mound in a Cactus League game this weekend.
The 28-year-old threw two innings, and is on track to start against the Chicago White Sox at Camelback Ranch in the spring opener on Saturday, or face the Milwaukee Brewers in Maryvale on Sunday.
After missing more than two months last season due to a back injury, Kershaw is said to be in good health and not suffering any ill-effects of the bulging disc.
The 21 starts Kershaw made last season matched a career-low that he previously set as a rookie in 2008. Kershaw logged at least 30 starts in seven of his nine seasons thus far.
He made 27 starts in 2014, failing to reach 30 because of a shoulder injury that required the first stint on the disabled list of Kershaw’s career.
