Cody Snavely
WASHINGTON D.C. — While the Los Angeles Dodgers lost one left-handed starting pitcher on the Injured List with Blake Snell set to miss the next few weeks with left shoulder inflammation, the team is inching closer to the return of veteran lefty Clayton Kershaw.
Kershaw, 37, traveled with the team to Washington, D.C., for the team’s visit at the White House earlier today and threw another bullpen this afternoon at Nationals Park.
Kershaw stated that his body and arm felt good and that the only thing holding him back rehab-wise was the toe, which is still recovering from off-season surgery.
Kershaw’s next step is to travel to the Dodgers complex in Arizona and face hitters again, which he also did last Thursday.
“Physically, my arm is ready to go, but my toe isn’t all the way there yet. So it’s just whenever my toe finally is strong enough to be out there, I want to be ready.”
Kershaw re-signed with the Dodgers right as the team broke from camp to kick off the season for a 1-year $7.5 million contract. The deal includes multiple escalators, including an additional $1 million for making his 13th, 14th, 15th, and 16th starts of the season. The deal also contains active roster bonuses; he’ll add an additional $2.5 million for 30 days on the active roster, $1 million for 60 days, and $1 million for 90 days.
In an interview with Foul Territory last month, Kershaw also stated that he aims to pitch meaningful games in June, whether with the Dodgers Major League team or a rehab assignment.
Kershaw was placed on the 60-day Injured List during the Tokyo Series last month and is not eligible to return until the end of May.
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