However the three-time Nationwide League Cy Younger Award winner isn’t prepared to surrender on his hopes of pitching within the playoffs if the Dodgers could make a deep October run.
“I’m going to keep trying every day,” Kershaw, 36, mentioned earlier than Thursday night time’s collection finale towards the San Diego Padres in Dodger Stadium. “Maybe it’ll feel better one day. I’m just waiting for that day to happen.”
Requested once more on Thursday what’s ailing Kershaw, Roberts repeated his response from Tuesday, when he mentioned, “It’s the toe … it’s the body,” Kershaw mentioned the toe stays the first problem — ”That’s the reality,” he mentioned — however acknowledged that compensating for the ache in his push-off foot is placing the remainder of his physique in danger.
“There’s only like a percentage I can throw without other stuff starting to bother me because I’m throwing differently,” Kershaw mentioned. “Whenever my toe feels better, I’m confident that I’ll be good. But yeah, other stuff pops up when I’m not throwing normally. It’s not a big deal. It’s just there’s a max percentage that I can throw right now.”
Kershaw, who missed the primary 4 months of the season whereas recovering from November’s shoulder surgical procedure, has accomplished a number of bullpen exercises previously two weeks — one through which he threw about 80 pitches — however he has not superior to a degree the place he is able to face hitters.
“I feel like it’s progressing, it’s just obviously not as far as I hoped or wanted,” Kershaw mentioned. “There are slight improvements like waking up in the morning, the [ability to put] pressure on it, maybe. But it’s just not there yet.”
Roberts mentioned Kershaw, who went 2-2 with a 4.50 ERA in seven begins after being activated in late July, must full a number of bullpen exercises and face hitters earlier than being thought-about for the group’s injury-ravaged playoff rotation.
“My arm, I’m keeping good as best I can,” Kershaw mentioned. “I really think when my toe is better, I’ll be ready to pitch. I just need to get as close to 100% so I can throw normally.”
