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Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw moved another step closer to returning to the team on Monday, throwing a four-inning simulated game before the club’s four-game series against the Pirates begins at PNC Park in Pittsburgh.
Up next for Kershaw is a minor league rehab start with Triple-A Oklahoma City on Saturday. From the beat reporters in Pittsburgh:
Chase Utley and @kikehndez get some ABs in against @ClaytonKersh22 in a simulated game. #LetsGoDodgers pic.twitter.com/VhIyfpOyxP
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) August 21, 2017
Chase Utley, Kike' Hernandez, and Hitting coach, Turner Ward facing Kershaw in simulated game. #Dodgers
— David Vassegh (@THEREAL_DV) August 21, 2017
Kershaw coming out for a fourth inning. Might have talked Roberts into a complete game.
— Ken Gurnick (@kengurnick) August 21, 2017
Kershaw said he could pitch in @mlb tomorrow but said team knows next step. Said he's more than healthy.
— Alanna Rizzo (@alannarizzo) August 21, 2017
Kershaw said he hadn't lost much to any arm strength. Has been healthy for long time. Team wants to make sure pitch count is there.
— Alanna Rizzo (@alannarizzo) August 21, 2017
#Dodgers Clayton Kershaw said he felt "healthy enough 10 days ago" to return but "obviously that wasn't the plan"
— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) August 21, 2017
Kershaw explained that the "up and down" of sim game was more important than number of pitches thrown. #Dodgers
— David Vassegh (@THEREAL_DV) August 21, 2017
Austin Barnes caught Clayton Kershaw's sim game. "He used all his weapons, and looked good."
— Andy McCullough (@McCulloughTimes) August 21, 2017
Rick Honeycutt said Kershaw is scheduled to pitch a minor league rehab start over the weekend.
— Ken Gurnick (@kengurnick) August 21, 2017
Kershaw will pitch for OKC Saturday, Roberts said.
— Ken Gurnick (@kengurnick) August 21, 2017
Rick Honeycutt said the plan calls for Clayton Kershaw to throw four innings and 60 pitches in a minor-league game on Saturday.
— Andy McCullough (@McCulloughTimes) August 21, 2017
A Saturday rehab start for Kershaw could line him up to return to the Dodgers on their next road trip, either against the Diamondbacks in Phoenix or versus the Padres in San Diego. That would give him ample time to make either five or six regular season starts if needed, to tune up for the postseason.
Kershaw last pitched on July 23.
Darvish back this weekend
Yu Darvish followed Kershaw with a bullpen session of his own, two days after he was placed on the 10-day disabled list with back tightness.
Yu Darvish threw 32-pitch bullpen session. Tentatively slked to do it again Thursday #Dodgers
— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) August 21, 2017
Darvish will throw another bullpen session Thursday, no issues in today's bullpen session of 32 pitches. No rehab start planned for Darvish.
— Ken Gurnick (@kengurnick) August 21, 2017
Darvish last pitched on Wednesday against the White Sox. His first day eligible to return is Sunday, which is when he is scheduled to start against the Brewers at Dodger Stadium.
Darvish tentatively starts Sunday.
— Ken Gurnick (@kengurnick) August 21, 2017