Kershaw activated, goes 3 innings against Mets
Los Angeles Dodgers ace left-hander Clayton Kershaw was activated from the disabled list and went three innings Saturday night in New York against the Mets.
Kershaw, who was originally supposed to make a minor league rehab appearance before returning to the Dodgers, called his outing a case of mission accomplished.
"Pitching a rehab game is to make sure you're healthy, right? So I think tonight, same thing," Kershaw said. "Proved I'm healthy -- now it's just a matter of performance."
Kershaw, returning from a back injury, gave up two runs on five hits and one walk. He struck out four and threw 55 pitches.
"The most important thing, he came out of it feeling good, feeling strong," manager Dave Roberts said. "Felt like he could go longer. As far as the stuff, I thought the slider got better. I thought the fastball coming out of his hand was good from the first pitch, and the curveball I thought was pretty good."
Kershaw was initially scheduled to make a rehab start on Saturday for Triple-A Oklahoma City. However, Kershaw lobbied to skip the minor league assignment, with rain expected rain for the contest in Omaha, Neb., helping lead to the decision to have the three-time Cy Young Award winner start against the Mets.
Kershaw had made just one big league start since May 1. He went on the DL with biceps tendinitis and returned on May 31, but left after five innings against the Philadelphia Phillies due to a strained lower back.
That led to the 30-year-old's fourth career DL stint caused by a back injury, including one in each of the last three seasons.
Kershaw tossed a three-inning simulated game in Chicago on Monday. After his brief outing Saturday, he is 1-4 with a 2.94 ERA in nine starts this season.
The Mets scored single runs in the second and third innings, driven in on a Jose Bautista double and a Wilmer Flores single, respectively.
Los Angeles sent left-hander Adam Liberatore to Triple-A Oklahoma City to make room for Kershaw. The 31-year-old has 2-1 record with a 2.77 ERA in 17 appearances for the Dodgers.
--Field Level Media
