Clayton Kershaw is set to make a surprise return from the disabled list Saturday night
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Kershaw has been sidelined since June 1 with a lower back strain. The three-time Cy Young Award winner and 2014 NL MVP originally was scheduled to make a rehab start Saturday with Triple-A Oklahoma City at Omaha, but heavy rain in the forecast caused the Dodgers to change plans.
”It’s probably the best thing for him and for us,” manager Dave Roberts said Friday. ”We don’t know how much he’s going to pitch. I don’t want to put a limit on him. Obviously, there is a limitation with Clayton, and I’ll make that decision.”
Roberts said rookie Caleb Ferguson (0-1, 7.59 ERA) will be ready in reserve. The 21-year-old left-hander had been slated to make his fourth major league start Saturday.
There’s rain in the New York forecast as well, but Roberts said the Dodgers took all that into account.
”From what I understand it’s going to be early and if there’s a delay, we have ample time to get him ready. But obviously, we’re not going to do anything to put him in harm’s way,” Roberts said. ”If there is something where we are shut down, having Caleb behind him, we have that coverage. So we can kind of combat that.”
Before the switch
http://www.cowboyscheapauthenticstore.com/trysten-hill-jersey-cheap , Roberts had said Kershaw would throw no more than four innings and 60 pitches for Oklahoma City.
The 30-year-old Kershaw is 1-4 with a 2.76 ERA in eight starts this year for the defending NL champions, who have been riddled by injuries.
He was out for nearly a month with left biceps tendinitis before returning May 31 against Philadelphia. He pitched five effective innings in a no-decision against the Phillies, and then went back on the disabled list the next day with the back injury.
The ace left-hander threw a three-inning simulated Monday at Wrigley Field in Chicago and said he felt really good. The next day, Roberts said Kershaw returning against the Mets this weekend was considered, but the team opted for a minor league start to give him ”the best chance for success and health.”
Kershaw, a seven-time All-Star, missed about five weeks last season with a similar back problem.
Roberts acknowledged that Kershaw lobbied to pitch at Citi Field this weekend, rather than in the minors.
”He did play a little weather man, so with weather.com and Clayton, we were pretty abreast with the weather in Omaha,” Roberts said with a chuckle.
”Just the way he’s responded to all the tests and to get him with us, the weather over there in Omaha
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Rich Hill will start Sunday for the Dodgers, followed by Kenta Maeda at home Monday against the Cubs.
In other injury-related news, shortstop Chris Taylor was out of the lineup because of a tight left hamstring. Enrique Hernandez started in place of Taylor, who exited Wednesday’s game in Chicago against the Cubs. He was available off the bench – probably just to hit, Roberts said.
”We’ll give him today and we’ll see about tomorrow,” he added.
Backup infielder Chase Utley was reinstated from the 10-day disabled list after missing 19 games with a sprained left thumb. A longtime New York nemesis and villain to Mets fans, Utley was on the bench for the series opener. He was batting .216 with a home run and 14 RBIs this season.
Utley has excelled as a pinch hitter, going 7 for 17 (.412) with five RBIs and two extra-base hits.
Los Angeles opened a roster spot for him by optioning catcher-infielder Kyle Farmer to Oklahoma City on Wednesday.
Rookie right-hander Walker Buehler is scheduled to throw 20 to 30 pitches in a bullpen session Saturday, the next step in his comeback from a right rib microfracture. He could return to the rotation without a minor league rehab assignment, Roberts said.
Rated one of baseball’s top pitching prospects, Buehler is 4-1 with a 2.63 ERA in nine big league starts.
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Whether they were making neat grabs or nailing runners at the plate
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It was just what Jon Lester needed.
The four-time All-Star won his fifth straight start, Javier Baez backed him with three hits and two runs, and the Cubs beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 4-0 on Wednesday.
”That’s what we’re capable of doing,” manager Joe Maddon said. ”In the past when we’ve won at a high level, we’ve played outstanding defense. It never gets old. It never gets old to watch that kind of baseball.”
Lester (9-2) gave up five hits over seven innings, though he didn’t have his usual pinpoint command.
Baez had two doubles and a triple for a career-high three extra-base hits. He also stole a base and made some big plays at shortstop and second.
Kyle Schwarber hit his 14th homer. Kris Bryant added two hits and an RBI in his third straight game batting leadoff. And the Cubs handed Ross Stripling his first loss since April 30, taking two of three in a rematch of the past two NL Championship Series.
”We’ll be somewhere (in the playoffs) in October,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. ”I can’t speak to the opponent, but we’ll be somewhere.”
Lester walked three and struck out one batter. Anthony Bass worked the final two innings to finish the six-hitter.
”I really didn’t have much today,” Lester said. ”I was kind of grinding through that one.”
But he didn’t need his best stuff with the defense coming through in a big way.
Baez made a strong throw from deep in the hole at shortstop in the second inning to rob Logan Forsythe of a hit and had fans chanting his name in the eighth after a neat double play as the second baseman. He caught Justin Turner’s line drive and lunged to the bag to double off a diving Enrique Hernandez.
Right fielder Jason Heyward threw out Chris Taylor trying to score on Turner’s fly in the third.
Center fielder Albert Almora raced in for a diving grab on Yasiel Puig’s liner in the seventh. And the Cubs caught several balls on the warning track while winning for the 17th time in 25 games.
”Al comes in, dives for one and I’m just like, `OK
Trevon Wesco Jersey , I’m done clapping for you guys,” Lester said. ”It’s expected now that these guys can make these plays.”
Stripling (6-2) had won six straight starts. The right-hander went six innings, allowing three runs and eight hits while striking out seven without a walk. But the Dodgers dropped back-to-back games for the first time since they lost a season-high six in a row May 10-16.
STINGY STARTS
Cubs starters have allowed one run or less in seven straight home games, matching Chicago’s longest streak since May 11-June 7, 1919, according to STATS.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Dodgers: SS Taylor exited with a tight left hamstring in the sixth. He said it started bothering him running the bases in the third, and he expects to be available Friday, when the Dodgers open a three-game series at the New York Mets. … INF Chase Utley (sprained left thumb) was ready to return from the disabled list. But the Dodgers decided to wait until Friday to activate him. ”Kind of where we’re at with the pitching,” Roberts said. ”He’s healthy and ready to go with us, but having some option-able players on the roster makes a lot of sense for us. Playing a doubleheader, three games in 24 hours, we’ve got to kind of see how things play out and give ourselves some options.”
Cubs: The Cubs placed closer Brandon Morrow (lower back tightness) on the 10-day disabled list. … RHP Yu Darvish (right triceps tendinitis) threw a simulated game. Maddon said he looked ”outstanding
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UP NEXT
Dodgers: LHP Alex Wood (2-5, 4.22 ERA) tries to win his second straight start as the Dodgers open a three-game series against the Mets on Friday. RHP Zack Wheeler (2-5, 4.82) pitches for New York.
Cubs: The Cubs open a four-game series at Cincinnati on Thursday, with RHP Kyle Hendricks (5-6, 3.55) going against RHP Matt Harvey (1-5, 5.92)
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