And there sat Clayton Kershaw, head bowed and staring at the outfield grass as excitement swirled around him. The last time Kershaw started a game was June 26 in Pittsburgh, and lower-back discomfort from a herniated disk had sidelined him since. After stretching, warming up and then fidgeting throughout the national anthem, Kershaw used 34 pitches to set down nine hitters from the Modesto Nuts in three innings of work. I was able to, you know, warm up and sit in between innings, stuff that’s kind of bothered me in the past,” Kershaw said. His curveball wasn’t as sharp, but Kershaw said he expected that given how long it has been since he had faced live hitters.

Source: Los Angeles Times September 04, 2016 04:22 UTC