Clayton Kershaw took a step forward in his recovery from shoulder inflammation by making a rehab start on Opening Day for Triple-A Oklahoma City. Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said the plan called for Kershaw to complete four innings or go 60 pitches.
The left-hander got through four frames on 56 pitches, and wound up facing the leadoff man in the fifth before exiting. Kershaw endured a bit of a rocky first start of 2019, allowing two runs on four hits, including a homer. He did record six strikeouts.
Kershaw was pleased with being able to get off the mound and surmised that although it wasn’t necessarily his preference, that a second rehab start would be in the cards.