WASHINGTON (AP) - Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw was activated from the disabled list by the Los Angeles Dodgers, who kept outfielder Yasiel Puig out of the starting lineup for the second straight night.
Kershaw allowed one run in 6 2-3 innings of a 3-1 victory over Arizona in the March 22 opener at Sydney. The two-time NL Cy Young Award winner strained a back muscle and went on the DL for the first time in his major league career.
Kershaw struck out 15 in 10 innings over two minor league injury rehabilitation starts with Class A Rancho Cucamonga and Double-A Chattanooga. To make room, the Dodgers optioned pitcher Pedro Baez to Chattanooga.
Puig crashed into an outfield wall in the ninth inning of Sunday’s loss at Miami. Puig rammed his head, left arm and lower left leg against the fence as he tried to track down Jeff Baker’s winning ninth-inning double.
“I feel well, I feel good. My head’s not bothering me anymore,” Puig said through a translator. “I wasn’t prepared to play yesterday. If the team needs me today I’ll be ready to play.
Mattingly said before batting practice that Puig was still being evaluated and could see action Tuesday.
“He’d be a guy that would be available to double switch, pinch hit, as long as everything continues to go good,” Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said.
First baseman Adrian Gonzalez was also out of the starting lineup; Mattingly gave him the night off from the starting lineup.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.