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DENVER -- Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw took a big step toward a return by throwing two solid innings during a simulated game Tuesday at Dodger Stadium.The three-time NL Cy Young Award winner has been sidelined with a minor disk herniation in his lower back since late June.Of course, Kershaw critiqued his performance afterward, telling team officials he wasnt as sharp as he wanted to be. Just Kershaw being Kershaw.And yet another positive sign.He felt great after, which is obviously everything we cared about, Andrew Friedman, the teams president of baseball operations, said hours before the Dodgers game with the Colorado Rockies was rained out Tuesday. The teams will make it up as part of a split doubleheader Wednesday. It was a great step in his progression.Before deciding on Kershaws next step, the team wants to see how hes feeling Wednesday, but hes raring to get back to the majors and help the NL West-leading Dodgers. This is just his second trip to the disabled list in his nine-year career. He also went on the DL in early 2014 with a shoulder strain.My guess is that Kersh will want to pitch in a major league game tomorrow, Friedman said. And I think with the time hes missed, my guess could be the next step, a minor league assignment. I think it will take a little bit of time to build him up in a way for him to be strong through September and hopefully October, as well.Asked how much input Kershaw will have in his next step, Friedman responded, A lot.But you also have to balance that with, hes as competitive of a person as Ive been around, Friedman added. He wants to get out here and help his team in the worst way. Well have to balance the medical opinion with how hes doing and feeling. Getting him as back as quickly as we can, but in the most responsible way possible.Kershaw wasnt the only injured Dodgers pitcher to work in a simulated game that featured a mix of minor league hitters. Righty Brandon McCarthy (right hip stiffness) went five innings, using his whole array of pitches; lefty Brett Anderson (blister on his left index finger) turned in four and lefty Scott Kazmir (neck inflammation) threw five.It was a full day at Dodger Stadium, manager Dave Roberts said. All of the guys came out of it pretty well.RAIN RULES THE DAYThe game Tuesday was postponed because of rain after a delay of 2 hour, 32 minutes from the scheduled first pitch. The first game Wednesday is at 1:10 p.m. and the latter at 6:10 p.m.We didnt get our hopes up in any one way, so the understanding that whatever decision was ultimately made, we got to make good on it, Roberts said.For Los Angeles, right-hander Ross Stripling (3-5) will pitch the first game, and lefty Rich Hill (10-3) will take the mound for the second contest as he makes his first start at Coors Field since April 23, 2008, while with the Chicago Cubs. Lefty Tyler Anderson (4-5) will throw the first game for Colorado, and righty Jeff Hoffman (0-2) starts the second.TRAINERS ROOMDodgers: SS Corey Seager was out of the lineup Tuesday, but it was a scheduled day off and had nothing to do with being hit on the left hand the night before. Hes fine, Roberts said.CLOSE WATCHThe Dodgers are keeping a close watch on the number of innings rookie Julio Urias logs this season. The lefty already has thrown 63 innings for the Dodgers heading into his start Friday. Injuries have forced the team to lean a little more heavily on him than anticipated.It was important to get him to a certain threshold this year, just to build off of for next year, explained Andrew Friedman, the teams president of baseball operations. Because of injuries, probably get there sooner that we wouldve liked. Thats the way things have played out this year. Hes had a big part in where we are this year.Should the Dodgers make the postseason, Urias might contribute out of the bullpen.Harrison Bader Jersey . -- Aldon Smith believes he is on the path to being sober for good. Chris Beck Cardinals Jersey .Y. - Free agent outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury, fresh off winning the World Series with Boston, reached agreement with the rival New York Yankees on a seven-year contract worth about $153 million, a person familiar with the negotiations said Tuesday night. http://www.authenticcardinalspro.com/cardinals-bob-gibson-jersey/ . Rinne played two periods in his first game since left hip surgery in early May. Gabriel Bourque scored 3:07 into the second period and Austin Watson tallied 5:15 later for Nashville. Ozzie Smith Jersey . - The Oakland Raiders re-signed offensive lineman Khalif Barnes on Friday. Yadier Molina Cardinals Jersey .2 billion agreement with Rogers Communications for the leagues broadcast and multimedia rights.Melbourne assistant coach Jason Ryles has stood up for Storm skipper Cameron Smith, who has been accused of dirty play during their NRL preliminary final win over Canberra.Ahead of Sundays grand final against Cronulla, Smith has come under fire for appearing to knee Raiders skipper Jason Crokers injured leg and pushing him over following a Storm try late in in the first half.The incident wasnt deemed worthy of any action by the match review committee with Ryles saying that Melbourne were the team that others loved to hate, particularly during the NRL finals.That has gone up a notch with the ANZ Stadium decider being billed as a state against state showdown.You can make a lot out of a still shot, Ryles said of a newspaper photograph of the collision.Its the same thing, different year for the Storm.When I was playing the same thing happened and now Im coaching four or five years later its still happening so we certainly dont read into it.The former Kangaroos prop, who played two years for Melbourne before his retirement, didnt believe Smith was a protected species.He said as the Australian captain Smith had earnt the respect of referees.Hes obviously a quality player and hes the Test captain and the referees have a lot of respect for him and he has respect for the referees.ddddddddddddIf I was the referee and the Test captain came up to me and spoke politely than I would speak to him and I think thats basically all he does.Since Ryles took over as forwards coach this season the Storm have taken their game to a new level.But he was quick to deflect his own efforts, making special mention of the improvement from lock Dale Finucane and prop Jordan McLean, and said that was a key to Melbournes success.Probably the biggest thing for Jordan this season is that he had a really solid pre-season which was unbroken with injury, Ryles said.That consistency in the pre-season seems to be showing through in the season that hes having.Ryles heart-breakingly sat out Melbournes 2012 grand final triumph over the Bulldogs due to a hamstring injury.He said being a part of this campaign was just as special.It still meant a lot in 2012 winning the grand final and this would as well, he said.Theres a lot of work that goes into it during the season culminating in this weekend and its an honour and a privilege to be part of it. 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