The Los Angeles Dodgers began to target the Freeway Series as a potential return date for Clayton Kershaw, but he remains on the 10-day injured list because of lingering soreness in his left elbow and now is expected to be out until September.
“As we look at the calendar, we’re going to get him healthy and expect him to be back sometime in September,” manager Dave Roberts said during an appearance at Dodgers All-Access on Thursday.
“The goal is to have him obviously pitching this year and to help us win a championship. How we get is sort of the question with the path, but I expect him to be ready to go prior to the end of the season.”
While Roberts’ forecast raised the level of concern, he reiterated Kershaw is not dealing with a more serious injury. “It’s just soreness,” Roberts said hours before the Freeway Series began.
“All the scans are clean. It’s just right now there’s some soreness in the elbow. You look at where we’re at, trying to get it all to dissipate, and the buildup progression, what it would take. The simple match puts us at the beginning of September.
Roberts wasn’t certain when Kershaw would begin a throwing program again, but estimated it would be “relatively soon.”
Meanwhile, Kershaw admitted to getting impatient and that likely contributing to the situation he is in now. “Basically, I just tried to come back too fast, which is a bummer,” he said.
“After the sim game it really didn’t respond well. It’s frustrating, it’s still nothing serious, but it’s just something that’s going to take a little bit of time. It’s no fun. Being hurt is miserable. I really don’t enjoy it at all.
“Especially with what’s going on here, the guys we have coming in, this stretch run, I want to be a part of it so bad. I’m going to do everything I can to be back, and I think I will be. But definitely looking more like September than August. I know we’re still going to be in the middle of it, so I’m excited to be part of it then.”
Kershaw’s progression
After being shut down for most of the All-Star break, Kershaw began a throwing program and played catch multiple days in a row. That led into throwing a three-inning simulated game at Oracle Park on July 27, but a second chance to face batters five days later was cancelled because of the lingering soreness.
In the time before Kershaw resumed playing catch, Roberts was emphasizing the Dodgers would take a cautious approach and keep the bigger picture in mind.
Kershaw has been on the IL since July 7.
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