Dodgers to start Clayton Kershaw on Thursday, Tyler Glasnow on Wednesday, says Dave Roberts

The Los Angeles Dodgers are adding some much-needed reinforcements to their starting rotation next week.

Coach Dave Roberts told reporters that Clayton Kershaw will be activated from the injured list and start Thursday. Tyler Glasnow will precede him in Wednesday’s rotation, providing the Dodgers with two of their most important weapons against the rival San Francisco Giants.

Kershaw made the third start of his rehab assignment Friday night for Triple-A Oklahoma City. Pitching on the road against Round Rock, he allowed three runs and six hits with two strikeouts in four innings.

“I want to be a part of this, I want to be one of the top five guys we have,” Kershaw told reporters afterward, via KVUE’s Cory Mose. “Obviously, right now, we’re in a difficult situation, we need to hold on for a while…if they need me now, I’ll be ready.”

Kershaw, 36, has not played for the Dodgers since recovering from surgery to repair the capsule in his left shoulder and the ligaments around the ball-and-socket joint in November. His first attempt at a comeback was in June, but after rehab began, he felt persistent pain and was shut down.

Last year, in his 16th MLB season, Kershaw started 24 games, striking out 137 batters in 131 2/3 innings and compiling a 2.46 ERA.

Glasnow went on the injured list earlier this month with back tightness. He has been the Dodgers’ best starting pitcher, striking out 143 batters in 109 innings while posting an 8–5 record and 3.47 ERA in 18 starts.

One more starter could soon return to the Dodgers’ rotation, as Bobby Miller pitched five scoreless innings for Oklahoma City, allowing four hits and four walks with four strikeouts. Miller made seven starts earlier this season, compiling an 8.07 ERA with 27 strikeouts in 29 innings before going on the injured list with right shoulder inflammation.

The Dodgers team has been wiped out by injuries this season. Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Walker Buehler are currently on the IL, in addition to Brusdar Graterol, Ryan Brasier, Michael Grove and Connor Brogdon. Tony Gonsolin is recovering from reconstructive elbow surgery last August, and Emmet Sheehan underwent Tommy John surgery in May.

Reliever Joe Kelly was activated from the IL on Friday.