Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw stretches as he prepares to begin rehab for the Class A Rancho Cucamonga Quakes on Wednesday night, June 19, 2024, in Rancho Cucamonga. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
LOS ANGELES – Clayton Kershaw has been in “a little soreness” following his rehab start on Wednesday, which could lead the Dodgers to postpone his next start, tentatively scheduled for Tuesday with Triple-A Oklahoma City.
“Yes, there’s a possibility,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Saturday. “I think given the schedule, we just want to make sure it’s ready. …We have been very clear from the beginning. When you are ready to go, when you are ready to progress, that is when it will be time. “I just don’t want to give him strict deadlines.”
Kershaw threw 37 pitches in three innings for Class-A Rancho Cucamonga on Wednesday. It was his first game of action since he underwent shoulder surgery in November.
According to Roberts, Kershaw had some soreness after that start, which continued Saturday when he threw a light bullpen session.
“We’ll see what that means in the future,” Roberts said of Kershaw’s second rehab start scheduled for Tuesday in Reno.
“That’s how it will be, let’s see how it feels. I think for me it will be talking to him, talking to the training staff, seeing if he feels good to do it. Watch the game tomorrow; If it feels good, great. If not, we’ll keep kicking it until it’s ready. … Making sure he’s right when he comes back, that’s the most important thing.”
ROTATION PLANS
Starting Sunday, the Dodgers have three off days on the calendar in the next eight days. That will allow them to continue giving their starting pitchers additional rest between starts.
James Paxton will start Monday on six days’ rest against the Chicago White Sox, followed by Bobby Miller on Tuesday (on five days’ rest) and Gavin Stone on Wednesday (also on five days’ rest).
The Dodgers will be off again Thursday before a three-game weekend series in San Francisco. Tyler Glasnow would get five days’ rest if he starts the series opener next Friday or Landon Knack could make another start.
MUNCY STATE
Max Muncy was moved to the 60-day disabled list on Friday. Muncy has been out since May 16 with an oblique strain and won’t be eligible to return until after the All-Star break.
“That was kind of a procedure that I guess we had to do. It doesn’t really change his timing,” Roberts said. “He’s not hitting yet. He’s working with the medicine ball, the rotation stuff. He moves, he runs, he throws, he takes ground balls. All of that is online. But the big variable is swinging the bat and taking live at-bats.
“I remember when it first happened we were contemplating not even turning him into an IL. For him, it’s going crazy.”
UNTIL NEXT TIME
The Dodgers are off on Sunday.
Dodgers (LHP James Paxton, 7-1, 3.65 ERA) vs. White Sox (LHP Garrett Crochet, 6-6, 3.25 ERA), Tuesday, 7:1:0 p.m., SportsNet LA, 570 a.m.
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