The Los Angeles Dodgers received some good news on Tuesday as it relates to the recovery of No. 1 starter, Clayton Kershaw.
The Dodgers’ ace, who is on the DL with a back strain, threw off of the mound on Tuesday. No problems were reported.
Kershaw threw off the mound with no back issue today.
— Ken Gurnick (@kengurnick) June 12, 2018
Kershaw still doesn’t have a set return date. But obviously, if he’s throwing without pain, he’s likely to return soon.
With that said, Los Angeles will likely use patience. Kershaw had missed a month with a biceps injury, was activated for one start, and sent immediately back to the DL. The last thing anyone in the Dodgers’ organization would want would be to have Kershaw hurt himself again.
Los Angeles could certainly use Kershaw’s services. Entering play on Tuesday, the Dodgers were 33-32, three back of the Arizona Diamondbacks for first place in the National League West. But with only 6.5 games between first-place Arizona and the last-place San Diego Padres, it figures to be a tightly-contested race.
When Kershaw’s been on the mound in 2018, he’s been effective. While he sports a 1-4 record in eight starts, he has a 2.76 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, and a 9.7 K/9 rate.