Kershaw’s goal is to rejoin Dodgers’ starting rotation
SAN DIEGO >> Time is not on Clayton Kershaw’s side. But the Dodgers’ veteran lefthander is still aiming to start meaningful games in September and October.
“I don’t know if there is a goal other than I want to pitch and I want to help and I want to start,” Kershaw said Wednesday afternoon. “Assuming I can get to that point and build up to that point, that would be the goal.”
Kershaw has not pitched in a game since July 3, going to the injured list with elbow pain. He threw three innings in a simulated game on July 27 and the pain flared up, shutting him down for two weeks.
His throwing program finally progressed enough to allow him to throw a 20-pitch, fastballs-only bullpen session on Tuesday at Petco Park.
With just over five weeks left in the season, is there enough time for him to progress to full bullpen sessions, throwing to hitters and then in games (simulated or in the minors) soon enough to meet his goal of starting for the Dodgers again this season?
“We’ll find out,” he said.
“As long as my elbow doesn’t hurt, we’ll be in a good spot. It’s been frustrating. It’s been a long time. It shouldn’t have taken this long. It’s frustrating on my part. But hopefully, I can be around for the fun part and help us in September and October.”
The Dodgers have established that they are willing to get creative during “the fun part,” moving starters to the bullpen or using them in shortened outings. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said the same could “absolutely” happen with Kershaw based on how much the three-time Cy Young Award winner is able to build up during the next five weeks.
“I’ll tell you, the one thing that he and I have is respect, trust, communication. We put it all out on the table,” Roberts said. “He’s very goaldriven as we all know. So understanding that the process of, No. 1, getting healthy and how he goes about getting healthy is most important. How we end up, where we end up as far as his buildup — everything is on the table. I think with him, he’s smart enough to know that, if it’s a three-inning buildup, that makes sense in a different role. If it goes perfect and we build up to a certain point and that makes sense as a starter, great.
“I think right now he’s just at the point where it’s ‘I just want to get healthy and any way that I feel I can best help the team’ he’s in.”
With plans to throw another bullpen session on Friday and include breaking balls this time, Kershaw said it is simply too soon to discuss any specific role when he returns.
“(We’re) not to that point yet to worry about that,” he said. “Obviously I’m going to do whatever is needed or wanted. My focus is to get back and start. But obviously, whatever I can do I’ll do.”
Betts status
Mookie Betts took three at-bats against righthander Tony Gonsolin in a simulated-game setting on Wednesday afternoon. Betts also did some outfield drills in right field and took batting practice with the team.
Roberts said those were the final steps before Betts returns to the lineup today.
Betts has not played since Aug. 7 and is on the IL for the second time in a month due to pain in his right hip caused by a bone spur. A cortisone injection almost two weeks ago relieved the pain and Betts has said he feels “normal” for the first time since spring training.
Roster move
As expected, righthander Joe Kelly was activated from the IL on Wednesday after making two rehab appearances with Class-A Rancho Cucamonga.
Not expected was the demotion of left-hander Victor Gonzalez to TripleA Oklahoma City to clear a roster spot for Kelly.
A pleasant surprise in 2020, the Dodgers relied on Gonzalez to be one of their main left-handed options out of the bullpen this season and he has been unable to match last year’s performance (in part due to a nagging knee injury that sent him to the IL).
A year ago, Gonzalez had a 1.33 and 0.74 WHIP during the regular season, then was called on to get outs in key situations during the Dodgers’ postseason run. This year, his ERA is 3.57 and nearly half of the batters he has faced over his past 14 outings have reached base — 16 hits (including two home runs), eight walks and one hit batter out of 56 batters faced.
“Tough decision obviously with what Victor means to us,” Roberts said. “Just looking for consistency with the fastball, the slider.”