Los Angeles Dodgers slugger Shohai Otani threw a 50-pitch bullpen session on Saturday. Otani advanced from the 35 pitch he pitched in a previous bullpen session on the same day the Dodgers activated left-handed pitcher Clayton Kershaw.
Kershaw was rusted during his first major league outing for nearly nine months. The three-time Cy Young Award winners continued four innings on Saturday night, allowing five runs and five hits against the Los Angeles Angels.
He walked three steps, attacked twice, and threw 48 of his 83 pitches for strike.
The Angels won the Dodgers for the second straight win, resulting in a 11-9 win.
Kershaw was making his 2025 debut after recovering from offseason toe and knee surgery. The 37-year-old left-hander gave up three runs in the first innings of 38 pitches when Logan Ohoppe delivered a two-run single and Matthew Lugo won the RBI single.
Otani was the designated batsman against his former team on Saturday, coming 6-6 from the plate. As Angel’s pitcher, the right-hander went 38-19 with 3.01 ERA and 167 strikeouts in 132 innings to go 38-19. He started 86 with the Angels from 2018-23.
Otani has not played in major league matches for the Angels since August 23, 2023. He’s recovering Right elbow surgery on September 19, 2023.
There is no timetable for him to return to the mound. Otani didn’t throw a slider into the bullpen. He simulated a two-inning outing by pitching 25 pitches, rested and finished on another 25 pitches.
The Dodgers pitching staff have been hit hard by injuries this season. Kershaw started the year on an injured list, but fellow starters Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow and Saga Roki are currently in Illinois.
Kershaw made seven big league starts last year, moving 2-2 with an ERA 4.50 before the season ended due to pain in his left big toe. His injuries prevented him from pitching in the postseason as the Dodgers won their eighth World Series Championship.
By throwing the first pitch on Saturday night, Kershaw began his 18th season with the Dodgers, tying the franchise record held by Zach Wheat and Bill Russell.
Since making his debut with the Dodgers in 2008, Kershaw has made 212-94 with 432 appearances (429 starts) with a 2.50 ERA. The club’s greatest strikeout leader of all time must reach 30 in his illustrious career.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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