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Los Angeles Dodgers Injury Updates: Kershaw Inching Closer, Ethier Makes Rehab Start

Weekly injury updates for the Los Angeles Dodgers. News on Clayton Kershaw, Andre Ethier, Scott Van Slyke and Scott Kazmir.

Welcome to another article on the rotating door that is the Dodgers disabled list this season. Since we last met, Los Angeles has set a new MLB record with 27 different players on the disabled list in a single season, tying the 2012 Boston Red Sox.

The team placed left-handed pitchers Brett Anderson (blister) and Scott Kazmir (neck) on the disabled list on Sunday to set the record.

The Dodgers currently stand atop the NL West clinging to a two-game lead over the rival San Francisco Giants. Things could get interesting this weekend as L.A. hosts the best team in baseball in the Chicago Cubs, and the Giants face the worst team in the league in the Atlanta Braves at AT&T Park.

Here's the latest injury updates:

Clayton Kershaw (herniated disc): The three-time Cy Young Award threw another 60-pitch bullpen session on Friday and said he felt good afterwards. He said he would face hitters next week and could make one rehab appearance before being activated in early September. 

Trayce Thompson (Lower back injury): Thompson is losing traction as he tries to recover from two fractures in his lower back. He still has not swung a bat and is expected to meet with the doctor next week. He likely won't be able to make a rehab appearance and could be added to the team's roster once it expands.

Andre Ethier (fractured right tibia): Ethier made his first rehab appearance with Class-A Rancho Cucamonga on Thursday and went 2-for-4 with a double and two runs scored. He's scheduled to make another start on Saturday but could also join the  big league roster once the minor league season ends.

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Louis Coleman (right shoulder fatigue): Coleman has thrown three shutout innings in three rehab games with the Oklahoma City Dodgers and could be activated when rosters expand in September if not sooner.

Alex Wood (left posterior elbow soreness): Wood threw from 90-feet on flat ground on Wednesday and said he feels good. He is expected to return in mid-September in a relief role.

Chris Hatcher (strained left oblique): Hatcher was moved to the 60-day disabled list on July 20th and is not expected to pitch again this season.

Hyun-Jin Ryu (left elbow tendinitis): In a stunning turn of events, just three days after announcing he would not return to pitch again this season, Dave Roberts said that Ryu has begun to pick up a baseball and will start throwing in the next few days. It's encouraging that he wants to try and return, but we won't hold our breath just yet.

Scott Van Slyke (Right Wrist irritation): Van Slyke was moved to the 60-day disabled list on Thursday, likely ending his season. There's still a chance Van Slyke can return before the year ends, but with the 60-day DL move, it's possible Van Slyke opts for surgery on his ailing wrist.

Josh Ravin (Right Triceps Soreness): Ravin landed on the disabled list on Sunday Aug. 14 for the second time this season, but his triceps injury isn't considered to be serious. The earliest he can come off the DL is Aug. 29, but it's more probable that he returns to the team when rosters expand after Sept. 1.

Brandon McCarthy (Right hip stiffness): McCarthy threw a bullpen session on Friday and received treatment after. There's still no timetable on his return, or if he's been able to work through his command issues. It's doubtful he'll be ready for a rehab start before the minor league season ends, so we expect McCarthy to throw a simulated game in Arizona before coming off the DL. 

Brett Anderson (blister): Anderson also threw a bullpen session on Friday and said he felt no ill-effects of the blister that surfaced in his last start. He expects to be back in September and like McCarthy, will probably throw a sim game in Arizona before being activated. 

Scott Kazmir (neck irritation): Kazmir was also placed on the 15-day disabled list for precautionary reasons, his first stint on the DL this season. Kaz complained he was unable to rotate his neck far enough to see the plate, but it is not considered serious and he expects to start when he is eligible to be activated off the DL on Sept. 8.

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