After making a rehab start with the Single-A Rancho Cucamonga Quakes on Sunday afternoon, it appears that 34-year-old Dodgers left-hander Clayton Kershaw will be activated from the injured list for this weekend’s brief two-game series against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park.

The future Hall of Famer pitched four innings for the franchise’s Low Single-A affiliate on Sunday, during which he made a total of 59 pitches. He allowed just one run on three hits, while striking out seven and walking just one.

That one run was a second-inning solo home run by 23-year-old Lake Elsinore Storm center fielder Justin Farmer, who now has something to share with his great grandkids years from now.

“I feel alright … overall it was good stuff,” Kershaw said, during a brief postgame interview. “It was fun. I don’t enjoy rehab assignments, but I like coming out here and hanging with the guys. It’s a good group and a lot of fun; some good players.”

Asked if he expects to make another rehab appearance, Kershaw gave a typical Kershaw-like answer:

“I hope not.”

The obvious beneficiaries of what was appropriately dubbed ‘Kershaw Day’ (in addition to Kershaw himself) were the Quakes, who drew a LoanMart Field sellout crowd of 4,773.

Kershaw has been on the IL since May 13 for ‘right SI joint inflammation’ – an injury that causes discomfort to the lower back, buttocks, and down one or both legs.

Earlier in the week, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told reporters that if all went well during his rehab start at Rancho, Kershaw would most likely return to action for the brief two-game series in San Francisco against ‘The Hated Ones,’ hinting that it would probably be Sunday’s series finale. He added that the future first-ballot Hall of Famer would travel with the team to Chicago for the three-game series against the White Sox and that he would probably throw a bullpen session on Wednesday.

All went well during his rehab start at Rancho.

Play Ball!

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