Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander Clayton Kershaw won’t pitch a two-inning simulated game, as scheduled, on Monday, but manager Dave Roberts said it’s not because of worries about the pitcher’s shoulder.
Instead, Roberts told reporters Sunday that the session had been “pushed back” to better align with Kershaw’s target date to return to the Los Angeles rotation. Kershaw hasn’t experienced a setback, and has no pain while playing catch, per the manager.
The Dodgers will need a healthy Kershaw in August and September as they battle to win their 10th National League West title in 11 seasons. They entered Sunday’s game against the host Texas Rangers with the second-best record in the NL and a four-game lead in the division over the Arizona Diamondbacks and San Francisco Giants.
The team has been targeting an early August return for Kershaw, a three-time National League Cy Young Award winner who was placed on the 15-day injured list with left shoulder soreness on July 3, retroactive to June 30.
Kershaw is 10-4 with a 2.55 ERA in 16 starts this season. The 35-year-old has struck out 105 batters in 95 1/3 innings.
In his 16th season, all with the Dodgers, Kershaw has a 207-91 career record with a 2.48 ERA and 2,912 strikeouts.
–Field Level Media