Dodgers' Billingsley Has Setback in Rehab, Kershaw Set for First Start

Billingsley's road to recovery was already long, and it just got longer

Dodgers' pitcher Chad Billingsley received a platelet-rich plasma injection in his right elbow, which has set back his recovery from Tommy John surgery he had in 2013.

Billingsley said he felt some discomfort while throwing a bullpen session last week in San Francisco. An MRI revealed he had tendinitis in the elbow. He says, though, he’s felt good the past few days.

“I did a lot of treatment yesterday, and it felt better,” Billingsley said.

Rest for the next five to seven days is in order for the right-hander, after which team doctors will evaluate if he’s ready to resume his throwing program. The team will be on the road, with stops in Minnesota, Florida and Washington, D.C..

Billingsley made just two starts last season before injuring his elbow. The 29-year-old has a career record of 81-61 with a 3.65 ERA.

Meanwhile, Clayton Kershaw will pitch in a game that counts this week, for the first time since he pulled a back muscle. Manager Don Mattingly said the left-hander looked good in his latest bullpen session Wednesday.

Kershaw is scheduled to pitch Friday for the organization’s high-single-A club in Rancho Cucamonga. The plan is to let him throw slightly more than the 50 pitches he tossed in a simulated game last Sunday.

“I think...we’re in the 55 (pitch) range, I don’t think we’re jumping way up from the pitches he threw the other day, maybe a few more,” Mattingly said.

How many tuneup starts the 26-year-old need is yet to be determined.

“We’ll just go one at a time and see, more than one, for sure,” said Mattingly.

Kershaw went on the disabled list after he reportedly pulled a muscle in his upper back while throwing a few days after his opening day start April 22 in Australia. 

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