by Cary Osborne
Clayton Kershaw was on a mound again Saturday at Dodger Stadium.
The Dodger ace threw a bullpen session for the first time since going on the injured list on July 7 with left elbow inflammation. The next step for Kershaw, who threw about 30 pitches on Saturday, is a simulated game where he will face Dodger hitters in San Francisco possibly on Tuesday, said manager Dave Roberts.
Afterward, the Dodgers will evaluate whether the next step will be a rehab game or activation from the injured list.
Tuesday could also see Mookie Betts back on the field.
Betts hasn’t played since July 19 due to right hip irritation. He received a cortisone shot this week.
“We’re hoping that dissipates some of the pain. The goal, the hope is still to have him play on Tuesday in San Francisco, but it’s still day to day,” Roberts said. “I know he wants to get in there, but the pain is just not allowing for him to be in there.”
Cody Bellinger, who exited Friday’s game with a left hamstring injury, is not in the lineup on Saturday. He took ground balls at first base before Saturday’s game. Bellinger hasn’t played first base this season but made 19 appearances at his former position in the 2020 regular season. First base would cut down some running for Bellinger’s ailing hamstring. He was on the injured list in June and missed 10 games with left hamstring tightness.
“We’ll see how he responds today. Hopefully, if things go well, he’ll be in (the lineup) tomorrow,” Roberts said.
The latest on Corey Seager is he will go to Arizona after this homestand ends to get in some games at Camelback Ranch in Arizona.
Joe Kelly is dealing with arm soreness and will likely not be available tonight.
“I don’t think it’s something long-term,” Roberts said. “We just want to make sure that he can go out there and get outs and still recover after an outing.”
Roster Moves
The Dodgers made two moves on Saturday.
They recalled outfielder Luke Raley and optioned left-handed pitcher Darien Núñez.
Raley returns for his fifth stint with the team and is in the lineup in left field. He is batting .180/.268/.260 in 56 plate appearances.
The Dodgers also brought right-handed pitcher Mitch White back for the fifth time. In a corresponding move, they placed right-handed pitcher Jimmie Sherfy on the injured list with right elbow inflammation. Sherfy appeared in his fourth game as a Dodger on Friday.
White has appeared in 13 games and has a 3.93 ERA and 1.47 WHIP in 18 1/3 innings.
Notes: Kershaw throws; Betts, Seager and Bellinger updates and Dodgers make a pair of roster moves was originally published in Dodger Insider on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.
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