Simulated game season at Dodger Stadium has begun.
LOS ANGELES — Having 11 pitchers on the injured list means the Dodgers have to manage several rehab plans. This weekend at Dodger Stadium, a trio of calendars aligned with Evan Phillips and Tony Gonsolin facing hitters on Friday, and Clayton Kershaw on the schedule to do so on Saturday.
For Kershaw, it will be his first time facing hitters since surgery on his left foot in November. He’s still in line for a potential return by late May, and this is just the next step in the process. The earliest day Kershaw could return from the 60-day injured list is May 17.
On Friday, Gonsolin faced hitters for the second time since injuring his back while weightlifting in early March.
“I feel like I have a little bit of kinks to work out, but this is basically my spring training time,” Gonsolin said. “I’m going to try to take advantage of that.”
Gonsolin said he’s focusing on being mechanically sound. He and manager Dave Roberts both said Gonsolin’s next time on the mound will be three innings, likely in six days to keep on a starter’s schedule. Where those innings will be pitched remains to be seen.
Phillips is closest to returning, as he makes his way back from a right rotator cuff strain. Friday marked his fourth time facing hitters during his rehab, and he’ll likely face hitters a fifth time during this homestand, mostly due to logistics. There was initial talk of Phillips heading to Sugar Land, Texas on Saturday to pitch a rehab game for Triple-A Oklahoma City, but the ring ceremony on Friday night at Dodger Stadium nixed that plan.
“There was no way I was missing that,” Phillips said of the ring ceremony.
Oklahoma City is home next week for a six-game series against El Paso from Tuesday to Sunday. After one more time facing hitters at Dodger Stadium this weekend, Phillips will likely had to OKC. Whether he needs three or four rehab outings, or maybe longer, remains to be seen.
Phillips said he still has boxes to check, including facing hitters in a game, pitching under the lights in front of a crowd, handling the adrenalin of game situations, and possibly going back-to-back before getting activated.
On-the-job training
Triple-A is the only minor league level playing games right now, leaving extended spring training as the only other chance for some to play in real games. But these simulated games at Dodger Stadium provided an opportunity for a pair of minor leaguers to get to face big league pitching.
Emil Morales, a shortstop out of the Dodgers’ 2024 international class who won Dominican Summer League MVP last season, faced Gonsolin and Phillips on Friday, as did outfielder Brendan Tunink, the Dodgers’ eighth-round draft pick out of high school last July. Both will also face Kershaw on Saturday.