Clayton Kershaw's long-awaited return is finally almost over.
The Los Angeles Dodgers will activate their ace Friday to face the Miami Marlins after he missed over two months with a herniated disc in his back.
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Manager Dave Roberts told reporters that Kershaw does not have a pitch count at this time, but the ace himself expects to be limited when he pitches in MLB again.
"It’s probably not going to be the full game first time out. I’m not okay with it but I understand the situation," Kershaw said, via MLB.com. "I only know how I feel right now and I feel good now."
Kershaw pitched a successful minor league rehab start Saturday. He needed only 34 pitches to get through three scoreless innings against the Modesto Nuts.
The Dodgers also got Rich Hill back Saturday, when he took a no-hitter into the sixth inning in route to six scoreless with eight strikeouts. With Hill and Kershaw back in the rotation, Los Angeles could be tough to beat in the postseason.