ST. LOUIS — Clayton Kershaw is his ain toughest professional and helium sounded thoroughly unimpressed aft pitching 3 innings for Triple-A Oklahoma City connected Tuesday night.
“Felt alright, overall. Stuff wasn’t that great,” the Dodgers left-hander said. “But I did it, got done it. We’ll spot however I consciousness time and spell from there.”
Asked if rust from not pitching successful a crippled since July 3 mightiness explicate his unsatisfactory grade, the three-time Cy Young Award victor didn’t fto himself disconnected the hook.
“I anticipation so,” helium said. “Not sure.”
Kershaw pitched the planned 3 innings connected his rehab sojourn to Oklahoma City, throwing 49 pitches. He allowed 2 runs connected a location tally by Albuquerque catcher Brian Severn, 1 of 4 hits Kershaw allowed portion striking retired 3 and walking none.
“I don’t deliberation anybody loves doing rehab. The connection rehab is not precisely great,” Kershaw said. “But evidently wellness (is the No. 1 priority). But show too. You privation to beryllium good. So, worldly wasn’t that large tonight, similar I said, but being backmost retired determination felt bully and hopefully bounce backmost time okay, propulsion a bully bullpen and get acceptable to spell for whatever’s next.”
What could beryllium adjacent is simply a commencement for the Dodgers. Manager Dave Roberts raised that anticipation implicit the weekend, depending connected however Kershaw came retired of his commencement Tuesday. Kershaw was traveling to St. Louis to rejoin the squad Wednesday.
“I deliberation that volition beryllium a discussion. Not sure,” Kershaw said. “I deliberation I’ll get into St Louis time and speech with the guys, spot what they privation maine to do. A batch of it is based connected our rotation, what that looks like, antithetic things similar that. Obviously, I’m not built up for a afloat commencement yet truthful I deliberation a batch of things are successful information and we’ll spot however it goes.”
PUJOLS ENCORE
After helium was released by the Angels successful May, the anticipation was that Albert Pujols would drawback connected determination for a farewell circuit earlier retiring this winter.
But the 41-year-old Pujols has performed good for the Dodgers arsenic a relation player. He has deferred immoderate speech astir his plans beyond this play and the likelihood of his playing different play seems to person grown. Count Roberts among those who expect Pujols to beryllium connected the tract again successful 2022.
“Only Albert knows,” Roberts said. “My conjecture is – not my guess, I cognize determination is much successful the tank. So my conjecture is helium volition proceed to play. I cognize that helium has poured into our enactment immensely. It volition person a lasting effect. We’re fortunate to person had him. The fans person truly embraced him. He’s felt that. The coaches and players the same. It’s been a love-fest I deliberation from each angles with Albert being a Dodger.”
OUTFIELD MOVE
The Dodgers promoted Steven Souza Jr. from Triple-A Oklahoma City and sent Zach McKinstry backmost down.
With Pollock expected to miss 2 to 3 weeks with a hamstring injury, Souza could get playing clip arsenic a right-handed enactment successful the outfield. In 13 games with the Dodgers earlier this season, Souza went 4 for 25 with a location run. He had an RBI treble successful 3 at-bats Tuesday.
ALSO
Right-hander Jake Jewell was claimed connected waivers by the San Francisco Giants a week aft the Dodgers claimed Jewell connected waivers from the Chicago Cubs. Jewell made 1 quality for OKC, pitching 2-1/3 scoreless innings. …
Left-hander Garrett Cleavinger was moved to the 60-day injured database and volition not transportation again this season. Cleavinger has been retired since Aug. 6 with a strained oblique connected his close side. In 18 innings implicit 22 appearances with the Dodgers, helium was 2-4 with a 3.00 ERA.
UP NEXT
Dodgers (TBA) astatine Cardinals (RHP Adam Wainwright, 14-7, 2.91 ERA), Wednesday, 4:45 p.m., SportsNet LA, 570 AM