GLENDALE, Ariz. — Here comes Clayton Kershaw to save the day for the Dodgers again.

The Dodgers wrapped up their abbreviated spring training stay in Arizona on Saturday and prepare to head into the 2022 season with their thinnest starting rotation in six or seven years. How much more of a soft spot could it have been if Kershaw hadn’t returned – either due to his health or a decision to continue his career closer to home?

“Fair question. Yeah – there would be some concerns,” Dodgers pitching coach Mark Prior said. “You’re always one pitch away from losing a guy. Then when you’re losing, maybe one of your top three or four guys, or any of your guys that you’re expecting to count on to provide a pretty big chunk of innings for you, that’s a huge concern.

“But I’m gonna (be a glass is) half-full right now. We’re in a good spot. So I’m gonna try to live in that present moment right now before I have to go the other direction.”

But Prior had to acknowledge that Kershaw’s performance this spring has been a pleasant surprise.

For most of the offseason, Kershaw’s health was an unknown – even to him. After receiving a platelet-rich plasma injection to treat a flexor tendon issue in his pitching elbow in October, Kershaw didn’t pick up a baseball until January. By the time he arrived at the lockout-delayed start of spring training, though, he was throwing off a mound and Saturday he finished the Dodgers’ Cactus League schedule by pitching into the fifth inning against the Giants. It was his fourth start of the spring during which he threw 11 2/3 innings.

“With the lockout, there wasn’t a lot of communication,” Prior said. “I think it’s probably fair to say that some of us probably expected him to be later in the April-, May-type situation. But once the lockout was over, talking to him and kind of where he felt and what he was doing, and to get to that point, it’s been nice.

“We’ve really tried to put him on a conservative progression, really not trying to push the envelope. … He’s been great about telling us and communicating on where he’s at. … So, yeah, pleasantly surprised he’s at where he’s at. But knowing who he is – not necessarily always that surprised.”

Whether he surprised the Dodgers’ decision-makers or not doesn’t matter to him, Kershaw said. But this spring has given him confidence that he has overcome last year’s injury.

“I think it’s proven to me I’m healthy,” Kershaw said after his third start. “No matter how you feel in the offseason, no matter how much you do to prepare and get healthy, you’ve got to go out there in spring training and face teams and go through the five-day routine and things like that.

“So I think for me, there’s a little piece of mind that I can do it. I’ve bounced back now for a few times. … I think I’ve kind of proven mentally in my head that I’m okay.”

CLOSING TIME

Craig Kimbrel made his spring debut as a Dodger in Saturday’s game and it was a rocky one. The first four batters he faced had hits – a double, back-to-back home runs and a single. He struck out the next batter and was removed from the game after throwing 19 pitches.

It was only Kimbrel’s second game this spring, so Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said he will handle Kimbrel cautiously early in the season.

“I will say that the first few weeks of the season I’m going to be very mindful of how he’s used,” Roberts said Saturday. “But it’ll only be in save situations. As far as things like two out of three (days), we’re going to be very mindful. It goes back to having other guys I have confidence in that can finish games.”

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PITCHING PLANS

The Dodgers will start Walker Buehler in the first game of the Freeway Series on Sunday in Anaheim and Julio Urias on Monday at Dodger Stadium. Roberts said top pitching prospect Bobby Miller will start the third Freeway Series game Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium. He is expected to go three innings.

Roberts has named Buehler the starter for Opening Day on Friday in Colorado, but has not announced the rotation order beyond that.

ALSO

As scheduled, Dustin May threw his first bullpen session Friday since Tommy John surgery last May. The Dodgers are hopeful May will be ready to return in the second half of the season.