Manager Dave Roberts said Kershaw (back) will be on a loose five-inning, 75-pitch limit in his first start back from the disabled list Friday, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports.
Kershaw looked strong in his only rehab start with Triple-A Oklahoma City -- tossing 64 pitches and striking out eight batters through five innings of one-run ball -- but the Dodgers will play it safe with their ace and monitor his workload in his first start since July 23. Even with Friday's limitations, it would seem unwise not to start the 29-year-old given his stellar 2.04 ERA and 168:24 K:BB through 141.1 innings this season. Once Kershaw returns, the Dodgers are expected to deploy a six-man rotation.