Jansen prepared for return to Denver's altitude

LOS ANGELES -- Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen said he feels equally excited and anxious about his return this weekend to Denver, where he’s twice encountered an irregular heartbeat that led to operations.

After it happened last August, concern prompted Jansen to skip a September trip to Colorado for a three-game series at Coors Field because he was at “high risk” of another episode. But he said the cardiologist that performed a 5 1/2-hour corrective procedure in November has told him not to worry.

“Excited, also a little nerve-racking, going back there and having that in the back of your mind,” Jansen said. “It’s a mixed feeling right now, but I think we’re well prepared.”

Jansen said his doctor ordered him to stay hydrated and eat a very low sodium diet to keep his blood pressure down.

“I talked to the doctor last week,” Jansen said. “He’s excited about it. He’s confident in his work. He wanted me this offseason to go work out in Denver, that’s how confident he was. I’m sure everything will be fine.”

The Dodgers fly to Denver on Thursday, a day off, but Jansen said he won’t really judge how he feels at altitude until he begins to exercise on Friday. He expects an incident-free series will put his mind at ease, as it did in 2013, after his first series following the initial heart procedure.

Jansen underwent a catheter ablation in the left atrium of his heart after the 2012 season to cauterize the damaged area and prevent it from generating abnormal electrical signals.

Jansen said he was sick and dehydrated the day he had his latest episode in Denver last August, and another corrective procedure was needed. He said he must be diligent about fluid intake at all times, but especially at altitude.

Manager Dave Roberts said he expects it to be “business as usual" for Jansen.

“As far as his heart, worrying about that, I’m not too concerned,” Roberts said.

Kershaw plan

Roberts said he’s “leaning” toward having left-hander Clayton Kershaw make two Minor League rehab starts. The first will be Thursday night at Triple-A Oklahoma City.

Kershaw is scheduled to throw four innings, or 60 pitches, and Roberts said if that goes well, Kershaw will throw an additional inning in the bullpen. Kershaw opened the season on the injured list because shoulder inflammation during Spring Training set back his schedule.