Clayton Kershaw is among multiple pitchers the Los Angeles Dodgers anticipate returning from the injured list in September, and he took a noteworthy step toward that becoming a reality by throwing a bullpen session at Dodger Stadium on Friday.
It marked Kershaw’s first time working from a mound since he was put on the 15-day IL due to lower back pain. Upon Kershaw being placed on the IL with his latest back injury on Aug. 5, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts estimated the left-hander would be out multiple weeks.
Kershaw throwing a bullpen session at this stage in his recovery process is in line with the club’s expectations. “I think it’s sort of right on par with what we were hoping for initially,” Roberts said.
“So I think that right now, it’s been about two weeks since he hadn’t thrown. So getting off the mound is a really good thing for us. Expecting him to come out of it well, then you’re looking at probably another BP, a simulated game and then potentially an activation.”
Next for Kershaw would likely be another bullpen session before advancing to facing batters. The Dodgers have not yet decided if he would need to complete a rehab assignment or simply pitch in a simulated game prior to being reinstated from the IL.
Kershaw joined Single-A Rancho Cucamonga for a rehab start in June before returning from a one-month absence due to back pain caused by right SI joint inflammation.
Dodgers encouraged but remaining cautious with Kershaw
Considering an MRI did not reveal any new back injury for Kershaw, the Dodgers have been optimistic regarding out his outlook for the remainder of the season.
“To be asymptomatic, I think that we’re pretty happy where he’s at,” Roberts said Friday. “I think that it’s easy to say that Clayton’s probably going to want to be on the more aggressive side, regardless. And I think the organization is probably more on the conservative side.
“So that’s why it speaks to just really trying to have as many conversations, so we can kind of find some common ground.”
Although Roberts did not want to lay out any sort of timeline for Kershaw’s return, it conceivably could come in two weeks, which would leave him with one month to fully build back up before the postseason.
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