Kershaw hopes to build up to "near 100 pitches" by the start of the season, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports.
Kershaw indicated that he has already tossed simulated games of three and four innings and plans to hit the five-inning mark Monday. That could make his 100-pitch goal realistic, though an earlier report by MLB Network's Jon Morosi suggested that Dodgers pitchers are unlikely to throw beyond four innings in their first turn through the rotation. Observers shouldn't have to wait long to see if Kershaw's plan wins out as the southpaw is expected to be the team's Opening Day pitcher for the ninth time in his career.