PHOENIX — As southpaw Clayton Kershaw has labored his method again from offseason surgical procedures on his left knee and left toe, he is made tuneups in Oklahoma Metropolis, Okla.; Springdale, Ark.; and Glendale, Ariz.
His subsequent begin ought to come on a extra acquainted mound in Los Angeles.
Kershaw struck out two and allowed a pair of runs on two hits and two walks in what ought to be his remaining rehab begin with Triple-A Oklahoma Metropolis on Sunday afternoon. He threw 57 pitches (35 strikes) throughout 4 innings, a barely lighter workload than in his earlier begin, as had been anticipated.
The lefty is eligible to be activated from the 60-day injured listing subsequent weekend, and given each his and the Dodgers’ schedules, he ought to be lined as much as begin subsequent Sunday towards the Angels at Dodger Stadium.
In the meantime in Phoenix, the Dodgers cut up their four-game set towards the D-backs with an 8-1 victory to shut out their three-city street journey. L.A. completed its longest stint away from residence with six wins in 10 video games towards Atlanta, Miami and Arizona.
When Kershaw takes the mound for the primary time in his 18th large league season, he’ll tie Zack Wheat and Invoice Russell for probably the most in franchise historical past. He and Russell are the one ones to play 18 seasons with the Dodgers since they moved to L.A. in 1958.
It is a rarity these days to have an lively franchise icon like Kershaw, who intends to spend his complete profession with the Dodgers. The 37-year-old lefty has received three Cy Younger Awards and one MVP Award, and he is been chosen to 10 All-Star groups. He owns a lifetime 2.50 ERA, and his 156 ERA+ ranks first in MLB historical past amongst pitchers with not less than 2,000 innings.
He is racked up 212 profession wins and sits 32 strikeouts shy of three,000, which ought to make his Corridor of Fame case a straightforward one for voters.
Kershaw made solely seven begins for the Dodgers final yr earlier than his season led to late August on account of ache in his left large toe. He needed to watch from the sidelines as his crew surged to the eighth World Collection title in franchise historical past, which was certainly one of many motivating components to return in 2025.
“I hope that is the final time I’ve to rehab. I am type of completed with that,” Kershaw stated throughout Spring Coaching. “However on the similar time, I do not need that to be the explanation that I cease enjoying. … Hopefully I can stroll out alone phrases, at any time when that’s, however it simply did not really feel prefer it was the correct time.”
All through Kershaw’s rehab, he has maintained that whereas his arm is in fine condition, his surgically repaired toe is a little bit farther behind, impacting the ultimate push-off in his supply. The toe has continued to really feel higher with each outing, in response to the stories supervisor Dave Roberts has obtained.
Kershaw’s potential return comes with the Dodgers already down a few arms within the rotation. Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow are on the 15-day injured listing with irritation of their throwing shoulders, and each are nonetheless a methods away from returning.
