Clayton Kershaw has been activated from the disabled list and will make his second start of the season for the Los Angeles Dodgers tonight as they are in Washington to face the Nationals.
Kershaw has not pitched since the season opener on March 22nd due to pain and discomfort in his back.
The 26-year-old left hander pitched for the Dodgers in their season opening series against the Arizona Diamondbacks in Australia, holding Arizona to just one run in over 6 2/3 innings in a 3-1 Dodgers victory.
Mattingly joked about using Kershaw when asked about today’s starter, the Dodgers seventh game in six days in three different cities.
“Yeah, we’re going to bring back Clayton,” Mattingly said. “Unless they’ve got somebody better.”
Of course there isn’t anyone better than the two-time defending National League Cy Young award winning Kershaw. Mattingly also said that Kershaw wouldn’t be expected to put up a huge pitch count in his first start back. He threw just 86 pitches in his most recent rehab start with Double-A Chattanooga.
Kershaw went 16-9, with league leading marks of 232 strikeouts and a 1.83 ERA for the Dodgers last year. He has led the NL in ERA in each of the last three years. He signed a seven-year, $215 million deal making him the highest paid pitcher in baseball history this off-season.
The Dodgers sit at 18-15, third place in the NL West, and 3.5 games behind the division leading San Francisco Giants.
For the latest sports injury news, check out our friends at sports injury alert.
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