The Los Angeles Dodgers are sending starters Brett Anderson and Clayton Kershaw to join High-A Rancho Cucamonga on a rehab assignment Saturday. Speaking at the third annual “Dodgers All-Access” event on Thursday, president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman first revealed the plan for Kershaw.
Friedman didn’t provide specifics, other than to say the 28-year-old was set to pitch for the Quakes this weekend. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Kershaw’s scheduled outing was moved up one day from the initial plan.
The left-handed ace is slated to throw three innings, or 50 pitches, for the Quakes. Whether Kershaw makes a second rehab start will be based off how he fares Saturday, Roberts said.
Kershaw will be followed in the start by Anderson, who is expected to throw 75-80 pitches or five innings.
Both southpaws faced Quakes batters during a simulated game at Dodger Stadium on Tuesday.
Kershaw has been on the disabled list since late June when he was no longer able to continue pitching with a mild disc herniation. Saturday’s outing marks his first attempt at a rehab start.
Kershaw’s recovery was temporarily shut down after he threw a simulated game in mid-July and back pain resurfaced.
Anderson’s stint on the disabled list is backdated to Aug. 21. He managed to make just two starts after returning from back surgery.
Anderson struggled through both outings, suffering a mild left wrist sprain in his 2016 debut, and exiting early due to a troublesome blister in his second start. He allowed a combined 11 runs on 14 hits over four innings.
Andre Ethier, who was in the Dodgers clubhouse on Friday, is scheduled to continue his rehab assignment with the Quakes by playing in three consecutive games beginning Saturday.
