Just like in 2016 and 2017, the Los Angeles Dodgers faced the prospect of being without Clayton Kershaw for an unspecified time because of injury. But whereas the previous two seasons he was sidelined by a back issue, this year it was biceps tendinitis.
An MRI confirmed that was the only issue Kershaw was dealing with, not additional shoulder or elbow trouble. Nonetheless, the Dodgers didn’t commit to any sort of timetable for their ace’s return.
Kershaw resumed throwing off flat ground, steadily increasing the distance and intensity with which he played catch. That led to the scheduling of a bullpen session and subsequent simulated game at Dodger Stadium, assuming all went well in Kershaw’s first time throwing off a mound.
He checked off the first box on Wednesday and though Dodgers manager Dave Roberts indicated Kershaw wasn’t thrilled with the results, he remains on track for the simulated game, per Ken Gurnick of MLB.com:
“He thought it wasn’t good because of pitch execution, but he said he felt fine,” said Roberts, who confirmed that Kershaw is on track to throw a four-inning simulated game on Saturday, the next step in his recovery from left biceps tendinitis.
Kershaw was initially expected to throw 30 pitches, but he went 54, with 24 coming after a brief break.
While an injury is never a positive development, it at least offered a possible explanation behind some of Kershaw’s troubles. He lacked velocity at times and was frequently betrayed by a slider that had become so dominant.
Kershaw thus far is 1-4 with a 2.86 ERA and 1.14 WHIP in seven starts. He last pitched May 1, which makes going out on a rehab assignment before coming off the disabled list a plausible scenario. Or the Dodgers could elect to start Kershaw May 31 against the Philadelphia Phillies.
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