Kershaw now expected back in September

LOS ANGELES -- Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw was hoping to be back at some point during this weekend’s series against the Angels, but the left-hander will be sidelined a little longer than he initially expected.

Kershaw has been dealing with elbow soreness for over a month and it hasn’t progressed enough for him to return to the mound. After a three-inning simulated game about two weeks ago, Kershaw said that his arm didn’t bounce back how he thought it would. Because of that, the Dodgers decided to shut Kershaw down yet again.

“Basically, I just tried to come back too fast, which is a bummer,” Kershaw said. “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, you know, being hurt is miserable. I really don’t enjoy it at all, especially with what’s going on here and the guys that we have coming in and this stretch run right now, I want to be a part of it so bad.”

The Dodgers are hoping that Kershaw can be part of their push at some point in September. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts is optimistic that Kershaw can play catch “relatively soon,” which could put him on track to pitch early next month. There’s still no definitive timetable, however, and that will all depend on how Kershaw feels and how his arm responds. Kershaw wouldn’t specify when he expects to throw a baseball or exactly how he feels.

Once he’s cleared to resume throwing activities, Kershaw will then have to build back up as a starter, which could take a few weeks. Kershaw knows that he’ll be battling the calendar, but understands that he can’t rush back as quickly as he did last time.

“I didn’t do it very well last time. I was probably a little too impatient with my rehab and that’s on me,” Kershaw said. “I just wanted to be back, I wanted to pitch. We’re gonna rest as long as we can to give myself a good chance to pitch in September, pitch some meaningful games in September and be ready to go in October.”

With Kershaw’s return date unknown, the Dodgers have acquired starting pitching depth over the last few weeks, trading for Max Scherzer and Danny Duffy before the Deadline and signing 37-year-old left-hander Cole Hamels on Tuesday.

Hamels and Duffy, however, won’t be ready until at least September. Hamels will throw his first simulated game on Saturday and Duffy’s throwing progression is still unknown. Without Kershaw and Tony Gonsolin -- who is also on the injured list -- the Dodgers have some questions to answer regarding their starting rotation.

A pair of scheduled off-days have allowed the Dodgers to go with a four-man rotation over the last week, but that will end next Saturday against the Mets. Walker Buehler, Scherzer, Julio Urías and David Price can certainly hold down the fort, but they’ll eventually need a fifth starter. It won’t be Kershaw, at least not until September.

“I’m gonna do everything I can to be back and I think I will be,” Kershaw said. “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 a part of it then.”