Dodgers News: Clayton Kershaw Plan, Return Target Altered

The Los Angeles Dodgers have made an adjustment to Clayton Kershaw’s potential return, manager Dave Roberts said on Sunday.

Kershaw has been on the injured list since suffering shoulder soreness after pitching against the Colorado Rockies last month, an outing in which he allowed just one hit, but left after only six innings and 76 pitches.

The Dodgers ace has been trying to come back since, and the original timetable for his return was early August.

Now, the lefty won’t throw a planned “up-down” bullpen session on Monday — a step that would’ve been the next step in his rehab — a decision that Roberts attributed to the off days in August rather than any pain, per Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic.

Roberts was vague as far as an updated timetable though, and the Dodgers’ first off day in August is on the 14th — well past early August — and it’s one of just two off days in the month, the other one coming on the 21st.

While there’s nothing firm as far as any setbacks Kershaw could be dealing with, this latest update from the Dodgers skipper does raise some questions as to the starter’s actual status.

Los Angeles has been missing Kershaw since the soreness afflicted him, as the team’s starting rotation has been both anchored by rookies and has been inconsistent.

24 year old Bobby Miller has suffered through some rough outings since his incredible first month in the big leagues, while 23 year old Emmet Sheehan got hit hard in Sunday’s loss against the Texas Rangers as he was responsible for eight runs on eight hits and five walks in the 8-4 defeat.

The addition of the future Hall of Famer back to the rotation will be a welcome boost for the Dodgers, but clarity as to when he’ll make his return to the mound is now hard to come by.

Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports