The Dodgers have activated Trea Turner from the disabled list and he’s been working out at second base. He’ll be there for a while, but Clayton Kershaw is expected to resume playing catch “relatively soon.”
Clayton Kershaw, the Dodgers’ ace pitcher, was activated from the disabled list on Wednesday after missing nearly two months due to a back injury.
LOS ANGELES, Calif. — The Los Angeles Dodgers have bolstered their lineup for the postseason, but their roster is still in flux. On Friday afternoon, they activated Trea Turner, one of their newest recruits, and worked him out at second base, which is a somewhat new position for him. Meanwhile, one of their greatest players, Cody Bellinger, was adjusting to life as a part-time player, and Clayton Kershaw, the team’s long-time ace, was considering a comeback before October.
Kershaw, who hasn’t thrown since July 3, is still unable to throw due to discomfort in his left elbow, but Dodgers manager Dave Roberts anticipates him returning to play catch “pretty soon.” Kershaw’s elbow is still healing after a three-inning simulated game on July 27, a setback he attributed to too soon ramping back up.
Kershaw described the situation as “frustrating.” “It’s still nothing major, but it will take some time to resolve. It’s not enjoyable. Being wounded is a terrible experience. I’m not enjoying it at all, particularly with what we’ve got here and the people coming in. I really want to be a part of this stretch run right now. I’m going to do all I can to get back, and I believe I will. However, it seems to be September rather than August. I know we’ll still be in the midst of it, so I’m looking forward to being a part of it.”
The Dodgers are 3 1/2 games behind the San Francisco Giants for first place in the National League West as they begin their weekend series against the crosstown Los Angeles Angels. Even though the Dodgers were off the previous day, Bellinger was out of the starting lineup, hitting only.168 while battling mechanical faults that are at least partially a result of offseason shoulder surgery. Bellinger, a left-handed batter, will basically become a platoon player for the foreseeable future, starting against right-handed pitchers and sitting against left-handed pitchers, according to Roberts.
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Turner, a shortstop by profession, will play second base for the overwhelming majority of his bat appearances, allowing Corey Seager to return to his natural position. Chris Taylor will start in center field against left-handed pitchers, like he did on Friday, and will also offer left-field coverage. Bellinger’s playing time will be reduced by at least a third, according to the 2019 National League MVP. Gavin Lux, a former top prospect who has yet to make an impression in the big leagues, is out of work as he recovers from a hamstring injury.
“There’s going to be a terrific player who doesn’t get the start every night,” Roberts said. “That’s where we’re at right now. I’ll divide my playing time according to my task. But, at this point in the calendar, we need to win baseball games. We’re four games down in the standings and need to win. I need to put the best players out there every night, in terms of workload and workload management, because I believe they can win a ballgame that night.”
Turner has spent the past five years as the Washington Nationals’ primary shortstop, although he has also played center field and second base. Turner informed the Dodgers when he arrived in Los Angeles that he preferred to play in the infield. Roberts stated he “welcomed” the opportunity to play second base for the remainder of the season.
Roberts remarked, “Obviously, he views himself as a shortstop, as he should.” “However, given our team, second base made sense to him, and he recognizes that it provides us with the greatest opportunity of winning a championship.”
The Dodgers have plenty of position player depth, but many of their pitchers are currently out with injuries. Kershaw is the most well-known name on the disabled list, but fellow starters Tony Gonsolin (shoulder inflammation) and Danny Duffy (flexor strain) are also out. After making just one start since the conclusion of the 2019 season, Cole Hamels, who was signed to a big league deal earlier this week, still needs to develop arm strength. Their finest left-handed reliever, Victor Gonzalez, was placed on the disabled list on Friday due to knee irritation. Jimmy Nelson, a former starter who had a strong season as a reliever, has chosen for Tommy John surgery.
The Dodgers have eight very competent starting pitchers at full strength, including Max Scherzer, Walker Buehler, Julio Urias, David Price, Kershaw, Hamels, Gonsolin, and Duffy, except Trevor Bauer, who has been absent from the club since early July due to sexual-assault accusations.
However, only half of them are now active, and Kershaw is still recovering.
“We’re going to rest as much as we can to give myself a good opportunity to pitch in September, throw some important games in September, and be ready to go in October,” Kershaw said.
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