Kershaw returns from DL; Baez sent to Double-A

The Dodgers' ace is back. Clayton Kershaw, the two-time National League Cy Young Award winner, was activated from the disabled list and will start tonight's game against the Nationals.

Kershaw has made just one start this season, and it happened on another continent. The southpaw started for the Dodgers against Arizona in Australia and picked up the victory, allowing just one run over 6 2/3 innings. Kershaw went to the disabled list after that with an inflamed back muscle, and he made rehab starts for Class A Rancho Cucamonga and Double-A Chattanooga before rejoining the Dodgers.

Kershaw has led the NL in ERA for three straight seasons, and over that span, he's logged a 51-23 record with a 2.21 ERA in 99 starts for Los Angeles. He won the NL Cy Young Award in 2011 and '13, and was the runner-up in '12.

The Dodgers made room on the roster by optioning Pedro Baez to Chattanooga. Baez, originally signed as a third baseman, made his big league debut for the Dodgers as a pitcher on Monday. Baez worked one inning and allowed two earned runs against the Nationals.