Kershaw to throw bullpen session Monday

LOS ANGELES -- The battle is on: ace lefty Clayton Kershaw vs. the Dodgers' medical team.

One day after his first rehabilitation assignment at Advanced Class A Rancho Cucamonga, Kershaw felt so good that he sees no reason why he needs another rehab start before joining the Dodgers rotation.

The club's medical staff, apparently, prefers a more conservative path to make sure Kershaw is all the way back before throwing his next Major League pitch.

Count manager Don Mattingly in favor of at least one more rehab outing, too.

"I am," Mattingly said Saturday. "And I know our medical staff is. I'm not sure Kershaw is buying in. We'll just see where we go."

Mattingly smiled as he spoke, not surprised at a player wanting to race back from an injury via the quickest possible route. Though Kershaw didn't speak Saturday -- "All good, all good," was all he offered before batting practice -- it's apparent that the 2013 National League Cy Young winner thinks he's ready to join the Dodgers right now.

"Are you kidding?" Mattingly said, grinning. "No question. No question."

Kershaw next will throw his normal between-starts bullpen session on Monday, and that's as far as the Dodgers are willing to commit to anything regarding him. After Monday?

"We'll see where it goes," Mattingly said.

Kershaw allowed one run (a home run) on two hits in five innings against Lancaster on Friday night in a no-decision. Over 56 pitches, Kershaw walked one and fanned six.