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LOS ANGELES — Dodgers pitcher Kenta Maeda will pitch in a minor league rehab game on Friday night with Class-A Rancho Cucamonga, keeping his arm loose as he prepares to return from his stint on the disabled list.
Maeda is expected to pitch four innings and throw roughly 60 pitches on Friday, manager Dave Roberts said Tuesday. The right-hander last pitched on May 10.
“It’s been kind of a long layoff for Kenta. We talked to him, and he was open to it,” Roberts said. “Some time next week he will be back in the rotation. It will be against the Cardinals, but we haven’t locked in the day.”
The Dodgers are off Monday, then open a three-game series against the Cardinals. a Clayton Kershaw figures to start the series opener, leaving Wednesday or Thursday for Maeda to slot in.
Forsythe back
Logan Forsythe, like Adrian Gonzalez, is back with the Dodgers after two rehab games with the Quakes. But only Gonzalez was activated from the disabled list on Thursday.
Roberts said it would still be a few days for Forsythe, who is recovering from a broken right toe and hamstring tightness. Forsythe last played on Apr. 18.
“I think Sunday would be the most optimistic, and maybe the most realistic is probably Tuesday after the off day,” Roberts said.
As for Gonzalez, Roberts spoke with him on Wednesday night after the second rehab game with Rancho Cucamonga.
“He’s close to 100%. Timing wise, he hit a couple doubles last night. We think he can help us,” Roberts said. “He’s told me how much better his body feels. I do expect the ball to come off his bat a little better.”
Stewart on a mound again
Brock Stewart has been sidelined since March with right shoulder soreness, but on Thursday pitched two innings in a game in extended spring training in Arizona.
What a feeling it was to get back into a game and compete!! Awfully excited to get my season started... almost time!
— Brock Stewart (@Brock_A_Stewart) May 18, 2017
Roberts said the Dodgers will continue to have Stewart progress in innings to build up arm strength, much like during spring training.
“Hopefully we’ll continue to build him up, to four, potentially five innings, with the opportunity to help us here,” Roberts said. “We see him as a starter but we could potentially use him as a long reliever. It’s contingent upon need for us.”