Clayton Kershaw, a future Hall of Famer, is set to return to the mound on Thursday after being activated from the 60-day injured list. He’ll be pitching against the San Francisco Giants in his first game back.
To make space for him, the Dodgers have let go of pitcher Yohan Ramírez. Kershaw has been out for a long time due to shoulder surgery, so his return is highly anticipated.
Kershaw expressed his eagerness to return to the mound, noting that this is the longest stretch he’s spent away from pitching in a big-league game. He emphasized the importance of performing well once he is back.
Kershaw underwent significant shoulder surgery in November to repair his glenohumeral ligaments and capsule. Since then, he has been rehabbing and pitched in three minor-league games, allowing four runs over ten innings.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts highlighted that Kershaw will be on a pitch limit for his return game. The focus will be on managing stressful innings and pitch counts rather than the total number of pitches.
The primary goal is to build Kershaw up for October, as the team has ample coverage to handle any immediate needs while Kershaw gets back into form.
Kershaw’s return is timely for the Dodgers, who are currently dealing with a depleted pitching staff. With five of their regular starters, including Walker Buehler and Tony Gonsolin, on the injured list and prospect Kyle Hurt undergoing Tommy John surgery, the team is in need of reliable arms. Buehler and Yoshinobu Yamamoto are expected to return soon, but the rest are out for the season.
Currently, the Dodgers’ rotation includes Kershaw, Tyler Glasnow, and rookies River Ryan, Gavin Stone, and Justin Wrobleski. Stone has been the most consistent starter this season, while Ryan and Wrobleski were recently called up.
Depth options in Triple-A include Bobby Miller and Landon Knack. Kershaw is approaching a career milestone with 56 strikeouts needed to reach 3,000, a feat achieved by only a select few left-handed pitchers.
The Dodgers, with a strong 61-42 record, are leading the NL West and hope Kershaw can help solidify their position as they approach the postseason.
