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Clayton Kershaw threw three innings in a simulated game before Tuesday’s game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, the next step in throwing progression for the Dodgers left-hander working his way back from forearm/elbow inflammation.
Kershaw threw to Luke Raley and Sheldon Neuse during his simulated game, followed by work in the weight room.
“The stuff was good to the eye. More importantly, he felt good coming out physically, mentally,” manager Dave Roberts said. “Tomorrow will be telling as well, kind of giving us some more clarity on this next week.”
The next step for Kershaw will come this weekend when the Dodgers are in Arizona, but it’s unclear if he will throw another simulated game or start a minor league rehab assignment at some point. Kershaw’s been on the injured list since July 7 with inflammation in his left forearm/elbow, with his last start coming on July 3.
Kershaw and the Dodgers have been vague about revealing a timetable for his return, other than it is at some point in August. The left-handed spoke with reporters in San Francisco on Tuesday.
What's next? "It's just a matter of what the team needs. Obviously I'm not built up to 100 pitches or whatever. If I have to be built up to 90, 100 pitches, I'll probably have to do another one. If less than that is good enough to be back then I'll probably be back."
— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) July 28, 2021
Joe Kelly, who injured his hamstring on Sunday against the Rockies, is with the Dodgers in San Francisco, though is unavailable for Tuesday’s game.
Busy at Camelback
Outside of Mookie Betts — who is eligible to return from the injured list Sunday, and on Tuesday in San Francisco had “his best day in the last couple of weeks” working with trainers before the game, per Roberts — the bulk of the Dodgers injured crew is at the team’s complex in Glendale, Arizona.
Corey Seager batted in simulated games on Monday and Tuesday, and will remain in Arizona likely until at least the Dodgers get to Phoenix on Friday. “I haven’t heard anything as far as him going out on a rehab assignment to any of the affiliates,” Roberts said.
Gavin Lux, out with a left hamstring strain suffered nine days ago, is also at Camelback Ranch getting treatment and hitting in the cage. He’s eligible to be activated on Thursday, but it will take longer than that.
“Seeing that he hurt his hamstring on a swing, I think that’s a positive as far as getting back to playing baseball,” Roberts said. “I expect him to go on a rehab assignment to get his swing right, and also to make sure his hamstring is right.”
Scott Alexander is also in Arizona, rehabbing the left shoulder inflammation that has twice landed him on the injured list this season. The first stint cost Alexander 55 games, then after two weeks back he’s again on the IL. Though he’s eligible to return Friday, there is no timetable for Alexander’s return. A rehab assignment will be needed before he can return.
“He was dealing with that shoulder fatigue, and it just didn’t respond the way we would have liked and he would have liked,” Roberts said.