The chances of three-time National League Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw bolstering the Dodgers’ injury-ravaged rotation, at least for the first round of the playoffs, appear to be dwindling by the day.
Kershaw, who hasn’t pitched since he left an Aug. 30 start at Arizona after one inning because of pain in his left big toe, was able to complete several bullpen workouts in the last two weeks — one in which he threw about 80 pitches — but the veteran left-hander has not progressed to a point where he is ready to face hitters.
“We’re in a holding pattern with Clayton,” manager Dave Roberts said before Tuesday night’s series opener against the San Diego Padres. “I don’t think there’s been improvement. I don’t see him facing hitters this week … and that is pretty telling in itself. Hopefully in the next few days, we’ll get a little bit more clarity on how he’s feeling.”
Kershaw declined comment as he came off the field after batting practice. Roberts said Kershaw will “do whatever he can to be available” to boost a rotation that has lost ace Tyler Glasnow (elbow sprain) and rookie Gavin Stone (shoulder strain) for the rest of the season, but Kershaw’s toe does not appear to be the only concern.
“It’s the toe … it’s just the body,” Roberts said. “From what I understand, he’s playing catch. He was out there playing catch today. But there’s something that’s holding him up from progressing to face hitters. So for me, for the training staff, I was told that we’re kind of status quo on not moving forward.”
Read more: Clayton Kershaw ‘trying everything,’ even working with Skechers, to ease toe injury
Kershaw, 36, missed the first four months of the season while recovering from last November’s surgery to repair the glenohumeral ligaments and capsule in his throwing shoulder. He was activated in late July and went 2-2 with a 4.50 ERA in seven starts, striking out 24 and walking nine in 30 innings.
With 2,968 strikeouts over his 17-year career, Kershaw, whose one-year, $10-million contract includes a $5-million player option for next year, needs only 32 strikeouts to reach 3,000.
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