Dodgers Clayton Kershaw throws three scoreless in | College News

Clayton Kershaw took the subsequent step to a return from the 60-day injured checklist, making his first rehabilitation look in triple-A Oklahoma City on Wednesday.

The longest-tenured Dodger tossed three scoreless innings in a begin towards the Tacoma Rainiers in a uncommon Wednesday morning contest, giving up two hits, placing out two and strolling none on 30 pitches (22 for strikes). Kershaw underwent left-knee and left-foot surgical procedure — to restore his left massive toe — during the offseason. He missed the 2024 postseason as a result of of his toe damage.

“I think anytime with rehab you want to feel healthy, which I do feel good today,” Kershaw, 37, instructed reporters after the sport at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark. “Then you want to see your stuff — obviously — play. There’s some things that I need to work on still, but for the first [rehab appearance] overall, it was a good step forward.”

The future Hall of Fame southpaw’s fastball velocity averaged 87.5 mph and topped out at 88.8 mph — more than a full mile per hour down from the 89.9 he averaged in 2024. He threw 12 sliders, 10 fastballs, 4 curveballs and 4 change-ups, producing 5 swings and misses.

Kershaw, getting into his 18th season with the Dodgers, has struggled to achieve the rate of his youthful days when he’d flip up his fastball to the mid-to-low 90s, turning towards elevated slider utilization and persevering with to toy with a fourth pitch: a change-up.

Dodgers supervisor Dave Roberts mentioned that with Kershaw, it’s not about his arm health, however relatively how he’s progressing from his toe surgical procedure. The operation to restore a ruptured plantar plate is just not a common operation for baseball gamers, resulting in hypothesis as to how Kershaw’s restoration would advance.

“I think with a guy like Clayton is more of how he feels,” mentioned Roberts, later including that coaching employees experiences pointed to Kershaw’s toe being in fine condition. “I know he’s probably happy with the uptick in velocity, the toe is the last part of it. The body feels good. The arm feels good.”

Pitching coach Mark Prior mentioned Wednesday that Kershaw “turned a page” in the final 10 days, complimenting his efficiency in Oklahoma City, noting the awkward swings the lefty pressured on his offspeed choices. For Prior, he’s trying ahead to seeing a absolutely healthy Kershaw on the mound.

“[Kershaw’s] like, ‘My arm feels good. My arm feels good,’” Prior mentioned. “We just want to see him be able to go out there and compete on a very consistent basis, every week, every six days, seven days, whatever that is, being able to repeat that and continue to build up.”

With Kershaw trending in the direction of a mid-to-late May activation off the injured checklist, his return will solely additional complicate the Dodgers beginning rotation.

Before being optioned to triple-A to make method for Bobby Miller’s begin Wednesday, right-hander Landon Knack made two begins, whereas left-hander Justin Wrobleski tossed a spot begin whereas the staff was in Washington.

Blake Snell, the Dodgers’ prized free-agent acquisition, has already made a journey to the 15-day injured checklist with left shoulder irritation on April 7. The former two-time Cy Young award winner started a throwing program Monday and has performed catch every single day since then. Roberts mentioned Wednesday there’s no present timeline for Snell’s return.

Right-handers Tony Gonsolin and reliever Evan Phillips are probably the subsequent to return from the injured checklist. Phillips earned the save for Oklahoma City on Wednesday, tossing a scoreless inning and showing in a sport for the second consecutive day for the primary time in his rehab stint.

Gonsolin made his longest rehab begin but Tuesday, giving up three earned runs whereas fanning 5 batters throughout 4 innings. Roberts mentioned Gonsolin will throw one other rehab begin — aiming for the five-inning marker — in Oklahoma City subsequent week, and is on monitor together with his tune-up.

If Miller is optioned back to Oklahoma City after his begin Wednesday, the Dodgers will need to fill a spot begin subsequent week as soon as again.

Teoscar back in the lineup

Outfielder Teoscar Hernández will return to the lineup towards the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday after lacking the final two video games with a abdomen bug.

“[I feel] great,” Hernández mentioned pregame Wednesday. “The last two days it’s been a little tough, but I feel better. Just to be able to go on the field, feel good, be with the guys and play the game.”

Hernández will begin in proper discipline and hit cleanup. The second-year Dodger has slashed .281/.309/.563 to start the season, tallying 5 home runs and 16 RBI up to now.