Clayton Kershaw kicked off a 30-35 pitch bullpen session this afternoon, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told reporters (including Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times). It was the left-handed star’s second bullpen work of the week, as he also threw 35 Memorial Day pitches. The team will be monitoring how Kershaw is doing over the next few days, but it’s possible he could go to minor league rehab as soon as this weekend.
Kershaw has been on the disabled list since May 13 after experiencing inflammation in the SI joint in his right hip. The team initially expressed hope that he would be back after a minimum stay of 15 days, although that proved untenable once the three-time Cy Young Award winner experienced lingering pain. Now that he’s back on a mound and potentially nearing a rehab assignment, it looks like he could be back at Dodger Stadium by the middle of the month. Prior to the injury, Kershaw had been typically excellent, posting a 1.80 ERA in five starts.
A few other health situations to note:
- The sailors placed outfielder Kyle Lewis on the seven-day concussion injury list, retroactive to May 29, ahead of tonight’s game against the Orioles. There’s no indication the 26-year-old is out for a long time, but it’s another setback for a player who’s suffered more than his fair share of injuries. Lewis’ previous issues were usually related to his right knee, and he only made his season debut on May 24 after missing the final months of last season with a torn meniscus and a bone bruise at the joint. To take Lewis’ place on the active roster, the infielder Abraham Torro is back from IL 10 days. The switch-hitting Toro is off to a disappointing .179/.237/.366 start through 135 plate appearances. He missed minimal shelf time recovering from a sprained left shoulder.
- The Red Sox reliever placed Matt Barnes on the 15-day injured list, retroactive to May 31, ahead of tonight’s game with the Reds. He’s dealing with an inflammation of his throwing shoulder. It will be a reset opportunity for Barnes, whose struggles last season have continued into this year. In 20 games, the right-hander has a 7.94 ERA with nearly as many walks as strikeouts. That’s on the heels of a 6.48 ERA in the second half of 2021, an unexpected downturn for a pitcher who earned a deserved All-Star nod in a dominating first-half performance. time. Barnes signed a two-year, $18.75 million extension last July — a deal that seemed favorable to the team at the time, but immediately went haywire. To take Barnes’ spot on the roster, fellow reliever Matt Strahm was reinstated from the COVID-19 injured list after a two-day absence.