Tony Gonsolin will start Tuesday for Oklahoma City, Evan Phillips is closest to returning from the injured list, and Michael Kopech will throw a bullpen session this homestand
LOS ANGELES — Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw will begin a minor league rehab assignment on Wednesday, likely for Triple-A Oklahoma City, manager Dave Roberts said Friday night at Dodger Stadium.
Oklahoma City is home next week to host Tacoma, the Mariners’ Triple-A affiliate. Tony Gonsolin will start the series opener on Tuesday, making his third rehab assignment after striking out seven in 3⅓ innings this Wednesday on the road in Round Rock, Texas.
“Tony had a good outing the other day. He’ll pitch on Tuesday and potentially try to touch the fifth inning,” Roberts said Friday. “Once we get through this one, I think he’s certainly in the conversation, and could be called upon.”
Kershaw pitch Wednesday, which will likely be in Oklahoma City, Roberts said. Wherever the start is, it will be the beginning of an extended rehab assignment. Kershaw is on the 60-day injured list after recovering from left big toe surgery in November. The earliest he can be activated his May 17, which leaves room for five rehab starts with extended rest built in.
Kershaw told reporters in Washington D.C. that he pitched two simulated innings at Camelback Ranch last week and was set to do so again this Thursday. That would put him on five days rest for Wednesday, whether in Oklahoma City or perhaps in Low-A Rancho Cucamonga, who will be home to host San Jose.
From Bill Plunkett in the Orange County Register on Monday:
“I’m kind of just going to keep on that schedule,” Kershaw said. “It’s kind of a weird needle to thread because physically my arm is ready to go. I’m ready. But my toe isn’t all the way there yet. Whenever my toe finally is strong enough to be out there, I want to be ready.
“It’s obviously a unique injury for pitching, unique injury for baseball. So there’s not a whole lot of precedent with it. We’re just kind of, whenever my toe is ready to go, I’ll be ready to go.”
Bullpen rehab notes
Evan Phillips is the closest to returning among the rehabbing pitchers. He pitched three games for Oklahoma City already, and added a fourth with a scoreless inning on Friday night in Round Rock, with two strikeouts. He’ll likely pitch at least once more in Triple-A after that before getting activated.
“He’s got the back-to-back box to check. It’s been good, I think that’s the last one,” Roberts said. “Evan’s close, he’s getting there.”
Michael Kopech will throw a bullpen session this weekend at Dodger Stadium, his first since starting the season on the injured list with a right shoulder impingement. Roberts said Kopech’s return to the bullpen is still “a ways away.”