The Los Angeles Dodgers rotation is adding Clayton Kershaw on Saturday, the first day he is eligible to come off the 60-day injured list. His start is coming in the middle game of the Freeway Series against the Los Angeles Angels that’s taking place during MLB’s inaugural “Rivalry Weekend.”
Kershaw is poised to begin his 18th season with the Dodgers, tying Bill Russell and Zack Wheat for the most in franchise history. Kershaw is also scheduled to pitch for the Dodgers multiple weeks earlier than his initial projection for a June return.
“It’s great. It’s a big shot in the arm,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “Clayton has worked really hard to get healthy. The bar is high for him. He doesn’t want to just come back to be active.
“He wants to come back and help us win baseball games and be good. I know he’s excited to contribute. Like I said, just getting number 22 back in the rotation is a huge shot in the arm for our ballclub.”
Kershaw completed a rehab assignment that comprised of five starts split amongst Triple-A Oklahoma City (three), Double-A Tulsa (one) and the Dodgers’ Arizona Complex League affiliate. He allowed two earned runs or fewer in four of the outings.
“I think the command the last time wasn’t to his standards or liking, but he still was very efficient, got the swing and miss,” Roberts said.
“With Clayton, just being back, I think it adds an element of certainty and performance. So I’m not too concerned about anything outside of getting outs, and that’s kind of the message that I told him when I talked to him today.”
Dodgers need Clayton Kershaw
Kershaw’s return comes at a particularly opportune time given Tyler Glasnow, Blake Snell and Roki Sasaki are all on the 15-day injured list.
Glasnow began a throwing program late last week, but Snell remains in a holding pattern and Sasaki was just put on the IL on Tuesday.
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