‘Not a setback,’ but Clayton Kershaw’s return pushed back

ARLINGTON, Texas – Tap the brakes on your Clayton Kershaw recovery expectations.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said the left-hander’s planned bullpen session on Monday has been pushed back to an undetermined date.

Kershaw (10-4, 2.55 ERA) has been on the injured list with left shoulder soreness since July 4.

He threw about a 40-pitch bullpen session before Friday’s game at Globe Life Field and Roberts reported that Kershaw, 35, felt good and was slated to throw another before Monday’s game at Dodgers Stadium.

Roberts stressed that there has been no injury setback in Kershaw’s recovery.

“Nothing unforeseen came up, but just kind of the timing of the schedule and the potential of where we lock him in,” Roberts said, suggesting that the move has more to do with setting Kershaw up on a proper timetable for a return to the rotation. “We’re just going to kind of wait and see – a day-to-day thing. I don’t know the next time for his pen, I don’t know that answer right now.”

The plan remains to have Kershaw throw another bullpen session, followed by a live simulated game before he’s activated.

“I just don’t know when that pen is going to happen. That’s the thing. I’m going to sit tight and wait for the green light from the training staff and then we’ll know more,” Roberts said. “Symptomatically, Clayton is in a great spot.

“I think it’s smart for us to not put a hard date. I don’t think that’s fair to Clayton or the training staff, to be quite honest,” he added.

Muncy at max capacity in Texas

Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy grew up about 25 minutes from Globe Life Field and attended Keller High School in a Fort Worth suburb. Perhaps being back ‘home’ in Arlington has helped him relax at the plate.

Whatever the reason, Muncy’s bat has been scorching of late. In his past four games, he has three home runs, including a first-inning grand slam Sunday against the Rangers. It’s Muncy’s fifth-career grand slam and third this season, which ties the Dodgers’ single-season record, most recently done by Chris Taylor in 2017. The Dodgers have an MLB-leading 10 grand slams in 2023.

Sometimes being back in your hometown can be distracting for a player. Not so for Muncy.

“It can be a lot, but thankfully we’ve been handling it pretty well so it hasn’t been too much of a burden for me,” he said. “Being here and being at home, a chance to kind of relax, a little taste of home cooking, helps me out. And hopefully gets me going when we get back home.”

It’s not just the home cooking that has helped Muncy drive in 10 runs in his past five games, Roberts said, it’s also his short swing.

“I don’t know if it’s the Texas weather, the home cooking, sleeping in his own bed, or what, but his swing has gotten a lot shorter and you’ve seen the results,” Roberts said.

The shorter swing was evident in a double down the left-field line and fighting off a two-strike, cut fastball on the inside of the plate for a base hit.

“Those are things that speak to a short swing, so for me, it’s been fantastic,” he said.

Staying relaxed at the plate is crucial for Muncy’s consistency.

“It’s there and then it’s not. I don’t know that answer but I hope that he can trust the process of having a short swing and using the whole field,” Roberts said. “If the results aren’t there, because they’re not always going to be there, continue to stick with that approach and that swing.”

It’s a simple but often elusive formula, Muncy said.

“If I can get myself to relax and trust in myself, I can usually have pretty good results,” he said. “Swinging at strikes, taking balls, not trying to do too much at the plate.”