Dodgers News: Clayton Kershaw Penciled in to Start Next Weekend in San Diego

Staff Writer 08/25/2017

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Great news Dodgers Nation, #22 is going to be back on the mound for the Boys in Blue soon. In an interview with MLB Network Radio, Dodgers’ manager Dave Roberts announced that following Clayton Kershaw’s rehab start this Saturday for AAA Oklahoma City, the three time Cy Young Award winner will be penciled in to start the following weekend against the Padres.

Sorry in advance #Padres, looks like Clayton Kershaw is on schedule to return next weekend against you #Dodgers pic.twitter.com/1MAzlLRwpr

— MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM (@MLBNetworkRadio) August 25, 2017

The Dodgers will play a four game set in San Diego including a double header on Saturday as a make up of a game that was rained out on May 7th.

Kershaw’s rehab start coincides directly with the Dodgers having a need for a starting pitcher this Saturday. Instead of throwing him directly into fire, the Dodgers have chosen to take the cautious route and limit the amount of pitches and innings he will throw in a rehab start. This will allow Kershaw to ease his way back into the rotation when he returns. Since Kershaw left his July 23rd start against the Braves with a back injury, the Dodgers have gone 23-5 in that stretch.

The starting rotation has been a revolving door of pitchers recovering from a variety of ailments, both major and minor. With Brandon McCarthy and Scott Kazmir beginning rehab assignments this week, Alex Wood recently placed on the disabled list, Brock Stewart having mixed results as a starter, and Yu Darvish not able to be activated until Sunday, the Dodgers currently have only three healthy starters on the 25 man roster. Ross Stripling, aka Chicken Strip, will get the call to make a spot start.

Ross Stripling said he'd likely throw 3-4 innings, 40-50 pitches in Saturday's start

— Eric Stephen (@ericstephen) August 25, 2017

When Kershaw returns in San Diego, the Dodgers starting rotation should be back to near full strength with Darvish and Wood set to return before #22 gets activated.