Dodgers Injury Updates: Clayton Kershaw start set, Tyler Glasnow, Jason Heyward

The Los Angeles Dodgers were on a quick spiral into mediocrity heading into the All-Star break, due in large part to the absence 15 players on the IL. The break allowed for something of a reset for their active players, and LA came back after to claim their series against Boston in spectacular fashion; in Game 1, Freddie Freeman hit a grand slam in the bottom of the eighth after the Red Sox intentionally walked Shohei Ohtani to load the bases. Game 2 featured a come-from-behind win for the Dodgers in extras.

Maybe their luck has turned, because a slew of promising updates for those injured players came through right after the break. Perhaps the most exciting: Clayton Kershaw completed his rehab assignment in Triple-A and will make his season debut against the Giants on Thursday, the day after Tyler Glasnow will return from the 15-day IL, after dealing with what he called "tall man back."

Kershaw's latest appearance in OKC lasted four innings, during which time he gave up six hits and allowed three runs, including a homer, while striking out two. That outcome did give some fans pause as to his readiness, but his first appearance in Triple-A only July 13 did go a lot better: three innings, zero hits, five strikeouts.

It's likely we'll only see Kershaw go four innings on Thursday at most, but his and Glasnow's returns seem to mark that the Dodgers rotation is working its way out of the deep, dark pit it's been in since mid-July.

Dodgers injury updates: Clayton Kershaw, Tyler Glasnow to return against Giants; Jason Heyward activated, James Outman optioned

Jason Heyward is also set to return for the series finale against the Red Sox after he went onto the IL for the second time this season on July 5 with a knee bone bruise. It never seemed like he would be gone, but his interim replacement, James Outman, had to take the roster hit and was optioned back to Triple-A to accommodate Heyward. Outman only batted .200 with a .450 OPS in his visit back to LA.

Key members of the bullpen are also making good progress. Brusdar Graterol, who hasn't pitched this season, has made two rehab appearances in Rookie ball and will go to OKC to ramp up starting on Monday. Michael Grove and Ryan Brasier are also nearing rehab assignments.

For the remaining position players on the IL, Mookie Betts and Max Muncy, more good news. Betts has been working on his grip strength since his hand was broken by an errant pitch. It's up to 50% as of July 19, and he's expected to pick up a bat when it's back up to 85%. Muncy, whose progress with an oblique strain has stopped and started multiple times since late June, has resumed light baseball activities.

What goes down must come up...? Dodgers have been dropping like flies this summer, but they're finally starting to come back (albeit slowly) when LA needs them the most. The team will almost certainly have to keep an eye out for more starting pitching at the deadline, but being able to gauge Glasnow's and especially Kershaw's effectiveness after injury will surely guide their deadline strategy.