Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Sunday that Kelly (shoulder) isn't expected to return from the 60-day injured list until after the All-Star break, the Associated Press reports. Kelly tossed a pair of scoreless innings in his first two rehab appearances for Single-A Rancho Cucamonga on Tuesday and Friday before rejoining the Dodgers in Los Angeles. He tossed a simulated inning Sunday, but Roberts noted that the right-hander wasn't sharp, as he hit two batters during the outing. Roberts hasn't indicated that Kelly will be shut down, so the 36-year-old will presumably link back up with a minor-league affiliate during the upcoming week to make another rehab appearance or two before the Dodgers entertain his return to the bullpen after the break.
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Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Sunday that Kelly (shoulder) isn't expected to return from the 60-day injured list until after the All-Star break, the Associated Press reports. Kelly tossed a pair of scoreless innings in his first two rehab appearances for Single-A Rancho Cucamonga on Tuesday and Friday before rejoining the Dodgers in Los Angeles. He tossed a simulated inning Sunday, but Roberts noted that the right-hander wasn't sharp, as he hit two batters during the outing. Roberts hasn't indicated that Kelly will be shut down, so the 36-year-old will presumably link back up with a minor-league affiliate during the upcoming week to make another rehab appearance or two before the Dodgers entertain his return to the bullpen after the break.
Kershaw (shoulder) threw a two-inning simulated game Sunday in Los Angeles, the Associated Press reports. "It was good to see him throw two innings. We accomplished what we wanted to," manager Dave Roberts said after Kershaw's workout. Kershaw has resided on the injured list all season after undergoing surgery on his left shoulder last November, but he looks like he could be ready to make his 2024 debut for the Dodgers at some point within the next month. The 36-year-old had previously made a three-inning rehab start for Single-A Rancho Cucamonga on June 19, but he was then shut down from throwing for the next week after experiencing lingering soreness in his shoulder. According to Roberts, Kershaw is in line to resume his rehab assignment next Saturday, likely with Triple-A Oklahoma City. Kershaw is expected to cover three innings in that outing, and he's likely to require at least tow rehab starts beyond that one before the Dodgers bring him back from the 60-day IL.
Lux is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Brewers, David Vassegh of AM 570 LA Sports reports. Lux is hitless in 17 at-bats over his past six games and will head to the bench Sunday after making 10 straight starts. Chris Taylor will move to second base while Enrique Hernandez starts at the hot corner against Milwaukee lefty Dallas Keuchel.
The Dodgers optioned Varland to Triple-A Oklahoma City on Sunday. The right-hander was called up by Los Angeles on Friday and will return to Oklahoma City without appearing in a game. Varland has six appearances for the Dodgers this season and has allowed two earned runs with a 3:4 K:BB over six innings.
Treinen earned a hold against Milwaukee on Saturday, striking out one batter in a perfect inning of work. Treinen entered in the seventh frame and retired the side in order on 11 pitches. The right-hander has given up an earned run in just two of his 23 appearances this season, resulting in a solid 2.61 ERA and 1.06 WHIP across 20.2 innings. Treinen hasn't shown much rust despite missing all of 2023 and most of 2022 due to a shoulder injury.
Vargas hit a solo home run as a pinch hitter in Saturday's 5-3 win over the Brewers. Vargas batted for Gavin Lux in the eighth inning and came through with a solo blast to give Los Angeles a 4-3 lead. The 24-year-old has been very productive when given the opportunity this season, slashing .349/.408/.651 with three homers, four doubles, nine RBI, 10 runs and a stolen base over 49 plate appearances. Vargas hasn't been a consistent part of the lineup, however, as he's started just once across Los Angeles' past seven contests.
Smith went 1-for-5 with a two-run home run in Saturday's 5-3 win against Milwaukee. After belting three solo homers Friday, Smith smashed a two-run shot in his first at-bat Saturday. Per Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic, the backstop became the first Dodger to homer in four straight at-bats since Adrian Gonzalez in 2015 and the first major-leaguer to do so since Jose Altuve in September of last season. Smith's two-game power surge has pushed him to 15 long balls on the campaign, tied for third among MLB catchers.
Phillips (2-0) was charged with a blown save and earned the win against Milwaukee on Saturday. He allowed one run on one hit while striking out one batter over one inning. With the Dodgers up 3-2 in the top of the eighth frame, manager Dave Roberts elected to call upon Phillips to face the heart of the Brewers order. The right-hander couldn't protect the lead, giving up a one-out solo homer to Christian Yelich. Phillips did get credited for the win, however, as a result of Los Angeles tallying two runs in the bottom of the frame and Alex Vesia closing things out in the ninth. This was the second time in the past two weeks that Roberts has called upon Phillips before the ninth inning in a high-leverage situation, so it's clear that the team is comfortable using him in that way. Phillips should still get the vast majority of save chances for the Dodgers, though Vesia has five saves on the campaign and is probably the leading candidate for ninth-inning duties when Phillips is either unavailable or deployed earlier in a contest.
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