After getting through a throwing session on Friday without pain, Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw appears on track to start Friday's game agains the Padres. Not surprisingly, manager Don Mattingly remains cautious.
It looks like Dodger faithful can breathe a sigh of relief about their new 215-million-dollar man, as lefty ace Clayton Kershaw is reportedly feeling fine after a throwing session on Friday, according to reports out of ESPN LA.
With the positive progression, it appears that the two-time Cy Young award winner will be able to pitch again soon after being ruled out of Sunday's (domestic) season opener against the Padres with soreness in his back. Despite the good news, Dodgers manager Don Mattingly is taking the same baby steps he did when No. 2 starter Zack Greinke was injured earlier this spring.
"We've taken a little step forward," the ever cautious Mattingly told reporters, "I'm not saying that says a whole lot at this point, but it does mean that we continue on with the process of moving forward." That process of moving forward will include a more intense throwing session on Saturday, with the hopes that he can start Friday's game against those same Padres. But, Mattingly has made it clear that his best pitcher's health is his number one priority.
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"The one thing to keep in mind is we're not going to let him go out there unless he's 100 percent," said the third year manager of the most expensive team in baseball. If Kershaw is unable to pitch, Josh Beckett -- who infamously joined the team as a stowaway in the Adrian Gonzalez deal -- will be available after a stint on the disabled list. And the three-time All Star will be ready if called, according to Donnie Baseball.
"We feel like he's ready to pitch," Mattingly said of Beckett, who missed most of last season with various nagging injuries before being taken out completely by thoracic outlet syndrome. "For the most part, we'd prefer him to be built up a little further, but if he had to, he's going to be a guy who, by the time he is eligible, could help us."
During the meantime, the Dodgers will turn to Korean import Hyun-Jin Ryu to begin their season (in America) Sunday night. Like Greinke, Beckett and Kershaw, Ryu is overcoming an injury. In his case, it's a torn toenail he suffered whilst pitching during the Dodgers trip to Australia to start the season. But, the second-year starter is ready to go, telling reporters through an interpreter that "I feel OK".
Provided the team can manage to navigate the transition between their pitching staff being a M*A*S*H*/post-modern interpretation of the Braves rotation to the All-Star cast they are paying for, so will Dodgers fans. If they can see the games, that is.