Los Angeles Dodgers veteran pitcher Clayton Kershaw is progressing in his recovery and is expected to travel with the team to Tokyo for their upcoming series against the Chicago Cubs on March 18 and 19. Kershaw, who is entering his 18th season with the Dodgers, has been participating in workouts during Spring Training as he continues to rehab from surgeries to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee and address issues with a ruptured plate and bone spurs in his toe.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts confirmed that Kershaw will not be active for the Tokyo Series, as Yoshida Yamamoto and rookie Roki Sasaki are projected to start. However, Kershaw will accompany the team to Japan. Last season, Kershaw played only seven games, the fewest of his career, and posted an ERA above 4.00 for the first time since his rookie year in 2008. Despite this, he remains a key figure for the Dodgers, who boast one of the deepest pitching rotations in the league, featuring Yamamoto, Sasaki, Shohei Ohtani, Blake Snell, and Tyler Glasnow.
Kershaw, a multiple-time All-Star, faces the challenge of regaining his form after his surgeries. His performance in the coming months will determine his role in the Dodgers’ stacked pitching lineup.
