Clayton Kershaw will be back for the Los Angeles Dodgers sooner than expected.
The ace left-hander will skip a scheduled rehab start and instead will start for Los Angeles on Saturday against the Mets in New York.
Kershaw hasn’t pitched in a live-game situation since May 31 because of a tight back. He threw a three-inning simulated game at Wrigley Field on Monday, and a day later, manager Dave Roberts said Kershaw would make a rehab start for Triple-A Oklahoma City this weekend.
But the Dodgers felt that wasn’t needed.
Kershaw, who can opt out of his contract after the season, is 1-4 with a 2.76 ERA, the latter of which is his highest since 2010.
He’s thrown a total of five innings since May 1, with left biceps tendinitis hampering him, as well.