Kershaw lasts 3 innings in 1st start off DL, but Dodgers still win

Clayton Kershaw's return to the majors didn't go quite as the Los Angeles Dodgers hoped.

Though he showed some flashes of his old self, Kershaw labored to the finish line over three innings of work on Saturday against the New York Mets. It was his first start since coming off the disabled list, and Kershaw's second big-league outing since April.

The veteran ace threw 55 pitches - 39 of them for strikes - while allowing two runs on five hits and striking out four in his three frames. Kershaw started off well, but then he needed 25 pitches to finish the third before being removed for a pinch hitter in the bottom half of the inning.

The three-time Cy Young Award winner has been hampered by injuries once again this season. After spending a few weeks on the DL with biceps tendinitis, he returned to make one start five weeks ago before going back on the shelf with yet another back injury. Following his rehabilitation from the back issue, Kershaw opted to forego a scheduled start in the minors and instead go ahead with Saturday's big-league outing.

Still, Kershaw was pleased to make his return without further incident.

“Good to be back,” Kershaw said, according to Jake Seiner of the Associated Press. “Now I can focus on getting better.”

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said postgame that "Thursday (against the Cubs) makes a lot of sense" for Kershaw's next start, according to Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register.

The 30-year-old had a short evening, but the Dodgers didn't end up needing him on Saturday, romping to an 8-3 victory over the Mets courtesy of a five-run eighth inning highlighted by Matt Kemp's grand slam.