Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw now has a firm timeline to return, being in line to pitch in games by the end of May, according to Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic. This weekend, the 37-year-old left-hander will face hitters for the first time since late in the 2024 season. Kershaw exited a game against the Arizona Diamondbacks when he couldn’t push off due to pain in his left toe. The veteran has since had multiple surgeries to repair the toe and a knee.
Clayton Kershaw said he’s facing hitters tomorrow. First time he will do so since knee and toe surgeries. All still on the same timeline — he’d said he wanted to be pitching in games (rehab or otherwise) around end of May.
— Fabian Ardaya (@FabianArdaya) March 28, 2025
Clayton Kershaw Has Timeline for Return
Contract Talks
Kershaw recently signed a one-year, incentive-laden contract with the reigning World Champions and is hoping to contribute to the team in a substantive way in his return. He is currently on the 60-day injured list, and the Dodgers have no plans to rush him, since they have a loaded rotation as it is. The left-hander has dealt with a myriad of injuries in recent years. He had his shoulder surgically repaired before the 2024 season, and there was some doubt that he would ever return to a major-league mound. Then, his toe issue shortened his season. As a result, Kershaw hasn’t pitched more than 135 innings since 2019. With the Dodgers’ crowded rotation, it is hard to see him having a full-size workload for the rest of his career.
Another Impending Return
Tony Gonsolin landed on the 15-day IL with a back injury, which handed the fifth spot in the rotation to Dustin May. Gonsolin will also face hitters this weekend and is nearing a return. The next step will be a simulated game or three innings on a rehab stint. The right-hander missed the 2024 season recovering from Tommy John surgery.
Too Many Pitchers
Based on what happened last year, the Dodgers would agree that you can never have enough pitching. The next question is, what role does everyone play? For now, Los Angeles will cross that bridge when they come to it. They will just be happy to have Kershaw back before he heads to Cooperstown.
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