May on track to return after next rehab outing

LOS ANGELES >> One start away.

According to Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, right-hander Dustin May will make one more start on a minor-league injury rehabilitation assignment with Triple-a Oklahoma City on Sunday and then rejoin the Dodgers.

That puts May on track to make his return from Tommy John surgery to the major leagues either Friday or Saturday of next week (Aug. 19-20) when the Dodgers host the Miami Marlins for a three-game series.

“It’s going to be a rush of emotions just because I’ve been out so long,” May said recently of returning to the mound at Dodger Stadium. “Even with Tommy John having a high success rate, there’s always that question mark. So just being able to check that box and be able to say I did it is going to be exciting.”

May has checked all the boxes during his rehab. He made his fourth start with OKC on Tuesday and went five full innings for the first time, throwing 68 pitches. In 14 innings at Triple-a this year, he has allowed three runs on 10 hits and five walks while striking out 23. Just two of those walks have come in his last 11 innings.

“Kind of since probably a month ago, something just clicked. It all just kind of synced up and everything has just kind of been going very smoothly,” May said. “I would say the command is right there with it. I would say everything feels about as good as it could. I’m excited to get this next month going and hopefully be with the team as soon as possible.”

Kershaw progress

A week after leaving his start in San Francisco with another recurrence of his lower back issues, Clayton Kershaw picked up a baseball and lightly tossed it to Trayce Thompson a few times during the Dodgers’ pregame workout Wednesday.

Kershaw is actually scheduled to begin a more serious version of playing catch on Friday as the first step in a throwing program the Dodgers hope will get the three-time Cy Young Award winner back in their starting rotation sooner rather than later.

“I think with Clayton, for me, obviously watching him move around is a good thing. When he gets a little more jovial I know he’s getting close,” Roberts said.

“I don’t know a time (for Kershaw to return to action). I don’t think he does. But just him moving around, picking up a ball, playing catch soon – like I said earlier, I do expect it to be more shorter term. So I think that’s how it’s playing out.”

Kershaw missed just over a month earlier this year with another flare-up of his back problem.

Bauer lawsuit

Right-hander Trevor Bauer’s legal entanglements have added another layer.

The San Diego woman who accused Bauer of sexual assault in 2021 has filed a lawsuit in federal court accusing him of sexual battery. The claim is a countersuit to the defamation lawsuit Bauer has filed against the woman.

In February, the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office announced that he had decided not to pursue criminal charges against Bauer after an investigation into the woman’s claims.

And a year ago, a judge denied the woman’s request for a restraining order against Bauer, saying she had been “materially misleading” on points of her claim.

This April, MLB suspended Bauer for 324 games for violating the league’s domestic violence policy — a suspension that will extend beyond the end of his contract with the Dodgers — after investigating incidents with multiple women.

Bauer was reportedly interviewed extensively by MLB’S investigators.

Bauer has appealed the suspension and an appeals hearing with an arbiter is ongoing. It is not expected to be concluded until after the end of the 2022 season (including the postseason). Bauer was paid his full salary while on administrative leave last season but is not being paid during the suspension.