On Monday, Clayton Kershaw threw to hitters at Dodger Stadium in a one-inning simulated game as he works his way back onto the Los Angeles Dodgers roster.
Kershaw has been out for nearly two months as he recovers from left forearm inflammation and he is eligible to be activated as early as Sunday, Sept. 5, however there still is work to do to build up his arm.
After the 33-year-old threw on Monday, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts called it “a good day” for the club and said they would determine the next steps for Kershaw once they saw how he responds.
On Tuesday, Roberts said Kershaw “felt good” and will participate in another simulated game. “I think we’ve got one scheduled for Saturday,” Roberts said.
“Another sim game, it’s going to be two innings. I’m pretty certain it’s Saturday. That’s a good thing. [Monday] obviously I was glowing and how optimistic and excited we were and Clayton was. [Tuesday] feeling no residual effect from the sim game, so it’s graduating him to the two-inning situation.”
Before his next simulated game, Kershaw will also throw another bullpen session this week, The Dodgers will again see how Kershaw responds after he gets through the next two throwing exercises.
“And then where we’re at, who Clayton is and how he’s feeling, there’s a conversation as far as activation,” Roberts said on Monday.
Gonsolin closing in on return
Tony Gonsolin, who also faced hitters on Monday, will likely head on a rehab assignment with one of the Dodgers’ Minor League affiliates before he is activated.
“He’s going to do another three-inning situation. I’m not sure where; we haven’t decided on that yet,” Roberts said. “I know he’ll throw a bullpen [Wednesday] and we’ll figure out where he’s slated to go.”
Gonsolin has been sidelined since July 31 due to right shoulder inflammation that also forced him to miss the first 60 games of the season.
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