Steve Webb
OKLAHOMA CITY — On Tuesday night, Clayton Kershaw made his first rehab start since going on the IL in July. He pitched three innings with the Dodgers’ Triple-A affiliate, Oklahoma City in a game against the Albuquerque Isotopes.
“It felt good,” Kersh said of his outing. “It felt good to be back out there. The stuff wasn’t that great, but I did it, got through it. We’ll see how I feel tomorrow and go from there.”
According to local press coverage in The Oklahoman, Kershaw looked good early in Tuesday’s game, striking out the first Isotope batter on four pitches. He allowed only an infield single in the inning and threw 15 pitches — 11 for strikes. In the second, Kershaw fanned the first batter but gave up a single to left, which was followed by two-run homer off the bat of Albuquerque catcher Brian Serven. Kershaw got the final two outs of the inning on a flyout and groundout, tossing 18 pitches with 11 for strikes.
In the third, Kershaw struck out the leadoff hitter before being touched for a bloop double. He then got out of the inning with a groundout and a deep flyball to center. In this final inning of work, he tossed 12 strikes in 16 pitches and left to a standing ovation from the crowd.
Kershaw’s final line for the outing: 3.0 IP 4 H, 2 ER, 4 K, 0 BB
Asked about the elbow after the game Kershaw said, “We’ll find out. It feels good right now. Felt good overall. Hopefully bounce back tomorrow OK.”
Kershaw said he wasn’t sure if more rehab assignments are in his future before he takes the mound again for the defending world champions. He may return to the Dodgers first as a reliever. “I will get to St. Louis (Wednesday) and talk to the guys and see what they say,” Kershaw said. “Obviously I am not ready for a full start yet. I think a lot of things are in consideration.
“Ideally, I’d love to throw long. The reality is that just wasn’t going to happen. I think by the time October rolls around I should be up to 100 pitches or so, which is the goal. I got to keep building.”
Skipper Dave Roberts had talked about Kershaw joining the rotation as early as Sunday or Monday, but all that will be reassessed in light of Tuesday’s performance and how Clayton feels on Wednesday. Obviously, three innings against Triple-A competition without a clean inning is less than ideal. However, it might have just been rust.
When asked whether or not it was indeed rust that caused the drop in his effectiveness, he responded wryly, “I hope so…”
We do, too.
