The Los Angeles Dodgers are navigating an injury concern with David Price due to left arm trouble, but the starting rotation may soon welcome back Tony Gonsolin and Clayton Kershaw as they are scheduled for respective rehab assignments.
On the 10-day injured list since July 31 because of a second bout with right shoulder inflammation, Gonsolin is scheduled to pitch Saturday for Low-A Rancho Cucamonga. Gonsolin is expected to go three innings and the team will decide on a next step after that.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts indicated Gonsolin needs to stretch out to four innings in order for an activation to become “a real conversation for us.”
Gonsolin missed the first 60 games of the season because of the same right shoulder inflammation. He struggled to provide much length or pitch with any command in his outings, and that came to a head when Gonsolin revealed the shoulder occasionally caused trouble.
Gonsolin is 2-1 with a 2.78 ERA this season, but has only managed to log at least five innings in two of 10 games (nine starts).
Kershaw’s simulated game
Kershaw has been out since July 7 because of left forearm inflammation/elbow soreness. A setback delayed his return but the past week-plus saw him make noted progress.
Kershaw advanced to facing batters in a two-inning simulated game on Friday. “He faced some of our guys, it went really well,” Roberts said.
“So I think the next step for Clayton will be to throw a ‘pen on Sunday, I would imagine. Once he gets through that, we’ll figure out where he goes on a rehab assignment, which would either be Tuesday or Wednesday.
“I think it’s just three innings, pitch in a game, go through the half-inning when you’re on the bench and the regular rhythm of a start. After he gets through that, we would assume healthy and all goes well, then the next outing would be with us.”
Scherzer recovering
After right hamstring tightness limited him to just 76 pitches over six innings, Max Scherzer expressed confidence he would make his next scheduled start on Monday. That remains the case as the right-hander has responded well since pitching through the minor leg trouble.
“He said it feels much better. We got ahead of it, were responsible,” Roberts said. “He’ll throw his side [Saturday].”
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