Kershaw to test ailing shoulder Thursday

MESA, Ariz. -- Clayton Kershaw will test his left shoulder again on Thursday with a game of catch, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said.

Kershaw has been experiencing discomfort since throwing a bullpen session on Monday of last week, and felt something similar throwing live batting practice last Wednesday. He was treated with medication and did not throw until Monday, when he again “didn’t feel great,” according to Roberts.

Kershaw has not had an MRI on the shoulder.

“Right now, with him, we just feel we’ve got a handle on the symptoms and right now we don’t feel we need one,” said Roberts. “If our medical staff felt we needed it, we would do it.”

Kershaw exchanged throws for five minutes on Monday with Walker Buehler, who is on a restrained throwing program after last year’s spike in innings. Kershaw threw out of the windup, a few firm pitches early, then appeared to back off and just throw at half speed.

Kershaw, previously named to make his ninth consecutive Opening Day start, was signed to a new contract in November for three years and $93 million, keeping him off the free-agent market following a season interrupted by back and biceps injuries.

Kershaw spent the winter improving flexibility to better sync his body and mechanics after losing velocity in 2018. There were no indications of anything wrong physically after his first two bullpen sessions of the spring.

Additional notes

• In the game against the A’s, the Dodgers held on for a 5-3 win, with Alex Verdugo and Kyle Garlick getting a pair of base hits each, and an RBI triple by Rocky Gale.

• Edwin Rios was a pregame scratch when he took ill. Cody Asche started at third base instead.

• Roberts said there was no update on outfielder Andrew Toles, who has not reported to camp while dealing with a personal matter.

• With a defensive change in the fourth inning, the Dodgers outfield looked like this -- Joc Pederson, left field; DJ Peters, center field; Shane Peterson, right field. Infielder Jake Peter entered the game in the fifth inning, when Pederson left. Reliever Pedro “Petey” Baez did not make the trip.

Up next

The Dodgers play the Rockies on Thursday at Camelback Ranch-Glendale, with Rich Hill starting for the Dodgers and scheduled for two innings. Relievers Joe Kelly, Tony Cingrani, Josh Fields and J.T. Chargois are expected to make their spring game debuts.