PHOENIX — Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen struck out two batters in a perfect inning in a B game on Monday against the White Sox and said his hamstring felt fine.
Jansen was originally scheduled to pitch in a major league game last Friday but was scratched after feeling tightness in his left hamstring while running before the game. He also pitched in a B game last Monday against the White Sox but has not yet pitched in a Cactus League game.
On Monday Jansen threw 13 pitches, inducing a pop up and striking out two. He said he threw nine sliders, one of which got Welington Castillo swinging.
Kenley Jansen struck out two and induced a pop up in a perfect inning. Here is Jansen getting Welington Castillo swinging pic.twitter.com/YnqcLqQ2XQ
— Eric Stephen (@truebluela) March 12, 2018
Jansen threw only 79 sliders in 2017, just 8.25% percent of his pitches per Brooks Baseball. He threw his cutter 85.3% of the time.
“That’s my whole process this year, to throw [the slider] for a strike,” Jansen said. “So far so good.”
The plan now is for Jansen to pitch in a major league game on Thursday. He said he’d likely pitch in two Cactus League games then again during the Freeway Series as he prepares for opening day on Thursday, March 29 against the Giants.