Kershaw slated for spring debut Friday vs. KC

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw will make his first Cactus League start of the spring on Friday against the Royals at Surprise Stadium. Manager Dave Roberts said the plan is for the left-hander to pitch two innings.

Kershaw is entering the last year of his three-year, $93 million deal and said earlier this spring that he has “no intentions” of retiring after this season. Whether he pitches for the Dodgers next season remains to be seen, but there will surely be mutual interest to come to a deal this offseason.

• Analyzing the NL West's projected rotations

The left-hander has thrown multiple bullpen sessions this spring, with his latest coming on Tuesday at Camelback Ranch. Friday will be the first time Kershaw faces hitters. Kershaw went 6-2 with a 2.16 ERA last season and figures to headline one of the most talented rotations in the Majors this season.

The Dodgers have right-hander Jimmy Nelson set to pitch Thursday against the Cubs. Nelson missed the entire 2020 season after undergoing back surgery. Dodgers top prospect Josiah Gray will follow Nelson on Thursday.

Trevor Bauer will make his second Cactus League start on Saturday against the Padres. Bauer struck out two in two scoreless innings on Monday against the Rockies. The hope for Bauer is three innings and around 45 pitches.

Though starting pitchers are starting to make their second appearances of the spring, the Dodgers have not yet announced an Opening Day starter. Roberts, however, said he would like to make that decision “sooner rather than later.”

Wednesday's standouts
The Dodgers got their first look at pitching prospect Bobby Miller in a 4-4 tie against the Reds on Wednesday night at Camelback Ranch. Los Angeles selected Miller with the No. 29 pick in last year’s Draft after a successful career at Louisville.

Miller, the organization's No. 7 prospect per MLB Pipeline, impressed at the alternate training site last season and has continued to open some eyes in his first big league camp. He tossed a scoreless inning, including an inning-ending double play. Miller was sitting at 96 mph with the four-seamer.

Landon Knack, the Dodgers’ second-round selection in 2020 and No. 16 prospect, also made an appearance on Wednesday. Knack struck out the first two batters he faced and touched 98 mph on a four-seamer, striking out TJ Friedl. Knack also gave up a game-tying homer to Deivy Grullón in the seventh inning.

“I love the way he attacks hitters,” Roberts said about Knack. “There’s a lot of swing-and-miss. It’s good to see him get his feet wet tonight.”

Gavin Lux and Zach McKinstry continued their strong start to the spring, each recording a hard-hit single in their first at-bats. Lux started the game at shortstop, but Roberts said that the former top prospect will get the majority of playing time at second base this season. McKinstry started the game in center field, the third position he has played this spring in as many games.

“I see him getting a good runway to play regularly,” Roberts said of Lux. “He’s having a great camp. He’s in a really good place. Even that at-bat tonight where he struck out against the lefty, he got three good swings off. I really like where he’s at.”

Around the horn
• Left-hander David Price threw a live batting practice session on Wednesday and Roberts said he “looked very sharp.” The next step for Price will be the throw a bullpen session in a few days and the hope is to get him into a Cactus League game shortly thereafter. Price sat out the 2020 season.

• Joe Kelly is still going through a throwing program after dealing with right shoulder soreness earlier in camp. There’s still no timetable for him to pitch in a game.

• Kenley Jansen was dominant in his first appearance this spring, needing just nine pitches to get through an inning and punching out two. His next test will come either Thursday against the Cubs or Friday against the Royals.