As the Los Angeles Dodgers conclude their longest road trip of the season with a matchup against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Mother’s Day, Clayton Kershaw and Michael Kopech are continuing their respective rehab assignments with Triple-A Oklahoma City.
The Comets are facing the Albuquerque Isotopes (Colorado Rockies affiliate) to wrap up their 12-game homestand. Kershaw is making his fifth start while on a rehab assignment that began last month.
Sunday’s outing is Kershaw’s fourth with Oklahoma City. He last pitched on May 6 for the Arizona Complex League Dodgers, throwing six no-hit innings at Camelback Ranch. Kershaw additionally made a start for Double-A Tulsa on April 22 because the Comets were going to potentially be impacted by inclement weather.
Overall in his career, Kershaw has made rehab appearances with Oklahoma City in 2017, 2019, 2021 and 2024. Sunday’s game is Kershaw’s eighth time pitching for the Dodgers’ Triple-A affiliate.
Kopech is expected to accompany him in taking the mound at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark for the series finale against the Isotopes.
Kopech began his rehab assignment in disappointing fashion last week as he started on May 8 but failed to retire any of the five batters faced. Kopech issued five walks as he threw 23 pitches, and only three for strikes.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts expressed some concern but noted the right-hander’s troubles were not health-related, and he anticipated Kopech improving moving forward.
Kopech began the regular season on the injured list because of a right shoulder impingement.
When is Clayton Kershaw returning?
While Kershaw has fully stretched out during his rehab assignment, the start on Sunday is expected to be an abbreviated outing. His next time taking the mound then is likely to come with the Dodgers, and presumably on Sunday, May 18.
Kershaw is technically eligible to come off the 60-day injured list on May 17.
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