Los Angeles Dodgers‘ ace Clayton Kershaw has been out for almost a month with right SI joint inflammation.
But it appears that his rehab assignment has gone quite well.
On Sunday, he threw four innings of one-run ball with Low-A Rancho Cucamonga, striking out seven batters on 59 pitches, with 44 of them being strikes.
After returning to the Dodgers on a one-year, $17 million contract, Kershaw is 4-0 with a 1.80 ERA in five starts.
Dodgers beat writer Fabian Ardaya shared some positive news about Kershaw and his rehab, having had a chance to speak with manager Dave Roberts, who says that the rehab start went well, and that Kershaw is set to return for the Dodgers’ upcoming weekend series against the San Francisco Giants.
Clayton Kershaw’s next outing will be with the Dodgers, Dave Roberts said.
— Fabian Ardaya (@FabianArdaya) June 6, 2022
Kershaw Set To Return
This is good news for the Dodgers, who have continued to play well in Kershaw’s absence.
But having Kershaw back will only boost the rotation, one which already features Walker Buehler, Julio Urias, and Tony Gonsolin.
With the way Kershaw pitched in his first five starts, this will give the Dodgers a better chance to get back on top in the National League.
They trail the New York Mets by a single game for the best record.
They also lead the National League West division by two games over the San Diego Padres and 5.5 games over the San Francisco Giants.
Getting Kershaw back during the Giants series is perfect timing for the Dodgers too, as this will be a crucial set for them.
We’ll see if Kershaw can continue his early season dominance upon his return and help fortify an already strong Dodgers starting rotation.
The series with the Giants will be a pivotal set.
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