Kershaw has been out for six weeks with a strained shoulder, but he has ‘never been a guy who believes sitting in the middle of a season is a good thing,’ he adds.
Clayton Kershaw is eager to return to work.
“There’s no satisfaction in sitting on the sidelines,” he said, having been on the disabled list for the past six weeks. “You can’t have fun doing what you’re doing.” You’re only taking up room. You are not carrying out your responsibilities – your job.”
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Kershaw’s first work assignment in a while will be Thursday night against the Colorado Rockies, his first start since June 27 when he tossed six scoreless innings with a shoulder that became “a little cranky” – his words.
The three-time Cy Young Award winner has been through this before, having spent time on the IL with various ailments in each of the previous eight seasons. But don’t try to sell him on the benefits of a midseason rest, even if he’s a 35-year-old pitcher with over 2,800 innings (regular season plus postseason) under his belt.
“I’ve never been a guy who thinks taking a break in the middle of a season is a good idea. “Hopefully, I’m wrong,” said Kershaw, who was 10-4 with a 2.55 ERA in 16 starts before going on the DL and would have started the National League All-Star Game if he had been available.
“I believe you should pitch if you are capable of doing so.” I believe that your body becomes accustomed to certain things during the season, and that a lot of change in routine is not a good thing. I mean, clearly, if you can’t pitch, you can’t pitch. I understand how some individuals like the mental vacation from it all. But it’s a lot worse for me. That is definitely not a good thing.”
Kershaw stated that he has been bored at times over the last six weeks and has found no use for all of this downtime other than to “feel better.” He isn’t worried about his start on Thursday, but “I always get the butterflies when I pitch.” That’s something I’m looking forward to doing again.”
The goal of the extended stay on the IL was to get him to “feel better” so that he has more in the tank for the final push of the regular season and possibly another October run. Kershaw, on the other hand, does not regard this as a selling factor.
“At the end of the day, I’d rather go out there and fail than not pitch at all,” he explained. “I’m not afraid of failing. That’s something I’ve done numerous times. “I’m just excited to get back out there and compete.”
MILLER STATUS
Shelby Miller, a right-hander, was among the rehabilitating pitchers who joined the Dodgers at Chase Field on Tuesday. Miller announced this week that he will begin a minor-league injury rehabilitation assignment in the Arizona Complex League.
Miller has been out since mid-June with a herniated disc in his neck, which was creating numbness on his left side.
“It was pretty big,” Miller remarked. “It was shooting down my left side on a nerve.” It wasn’t on my throwing arm, which was a relief. It wasn’t during my performance or anything. It was particularly uncomfortable at night. Then it became quite stiff for a bit. I’m not sure what happened. It was there when I woke up one day.”
Miller has a 2.40 ERA in 30 innings before being placed on the IL.
TREINEN PROGRESS
On Tuesday, right-hander Blake Treinen was also at Chase Field. Treinen is throwing bullpens as he works his way back from shoulder surgery last November. He stated that while he is healing well from throwing sessions, he is still waiting for his velocity to return.
Treinen believes he won’t be able to return this season unless he makes consistent progress.
“Before the season, I was like, ‘Heck yeah, I’m coming back,'” he explained. “My goal was to return in mid-August.” When you go through tissue and have to let it mend and gain integrity and capability, you just don’t know. That is the difficult part, which I am still learning.
“I’m certain I’ll return. I just don’t know when it will be. I’d like to say, ‘Hey, one month, (I’m) back.’… I need to start seeing some velo climbs so they can decide if I’m skilled enough to help them.”
ALSO
Walker Buehler, a rehabbing right-hander, is slated to throw to batters in a live batting practice session at Chase Field on Wednesday afternoon. …
The Dodgers changed their bullpen lefties, recalling Victor Gonzalez and sent Bryan Hudson down to Triple-A Oklahoma City. Hudson pitched two innings in the game on Monday. Gonzalez has a 2.60 ERA in 17 outings this season for OKC.
UP NEXT
Wednesday, 6:40 p.m., SportsNet LA, 570 AM, Dodgers (RHP Bobby Miller, 6-2, 4.26 ERA) vs Diamondbacks (RHP Merrill Kelly, 9-5, 3.21 ERA).