LOS ANGELES — Confidence has been Clayton Kershaw’s guiding light throughout his 17-year career and it has not changed now, even as the three-time National League Cy Young Award winner faces the prospect of never taking the mound in a Dodgers uniform again.
Kershaw, 36, continues to struggle through pain in his big toe that is severe enough that he not only is unable to throw with 100% effort, compensating for the injury is starting to cause discomfort in other parts of his body.
Kershaw – who didn’t make his season debut until July 25 after having offseason shoulder injury – described his holding pattern as a day-to-day situation, with Manager Dave Roberts saying the veteran left-hander could be two weeks away from pitching at bare minimum.
“There is only a percentage that I can throw without other stuff starting to bother me because I’m throwing differently,” said Kershaw, who went on the injured list on Aug. 31 with a bone spur in his left big toe. “Whenever my toe feels better, I’m confident I’ll be good. But other stuff pops up when I’m not throwing normally. It’s not a big deal. There is just a (certain) percentage that I can throw right now.”
The 10-time All-Star said he’s been assured by doctors that he doesn’t need surgery.
“It’s something that takes time I guess, which is the worst thing because I’m not good at that,” Kershaw said. “My arm, I’m keeping it going the best I can. I really think when my toe is better, I will be ready to pitch. I need to get close to 100% so I can throw.”
Without an exact timetable, Kershaw’s likelihood of being back for a best-of-five NL Division Series, which would start a week from Saturday, seems unlikely.
Kershaw tried to pitch through shoulder pain in the opener of last year’s NLDS and the Arizona Diamondbacks jumped on him for six first-inning runs. Arizona went on to the victory and a three-game series sweep.
“I think that he’s just not going to be viable for a couple weeks, and then we’ll see what that looks like as far as our playoff push,” Roberts said. “You still got to build up, you still got to throw a ’pen, you still got to face hitters.”
At that point, Roberts felt more comfortable letting Kershaw go into the specifics of the situation.
“No, I’m not giving up,” said Kershaw, who went 2-2 with a 4.50 ERA in seven starts after returning from shoulder surgery. “I’m going to keep trying every day. Maybe it will feel better in a day. I’m waiting for that day to happen.”
PLAYING IN PAIN
Despite a groin tear, shortstop Miguel Rojas said he plans on playing through the injury, saying it is something he has dealt with all season. The injury was confirmed through an MRI on Thursday.
Rojas aggravated the issue while running the bases on Wednesday night and left the game. He said he was not told about the severity of the injury.
Thursday’s starting lineup against the San Diego Padres had Tommy Edman at shortstop and is expected to be that way Friday and Saturday at Colorado.
“He’ll take a couple days off, and we’ll see where he’s at on Sunday,” Roberts said. “But he’s determined to make sure he’s ready for the postseason.”
GRATEROL GOES DOWN AGAIN
Right-hander Brusdar Graterol was returned to the injured list for the third time this season and is sidelined with shoulder inflammation.
Graterol started the season with a shoulder injury, made one appearance and went back on the IL with a hamstring strain.
The chances Graterol pitches again, even if the Dodgers advanced to the World Series, appear slim, but he has not been ruled out for the remainder of 2024.
“I think it’s going to be a week-to-week situation,” Roberts said.
The Dodgers recalled right-hander Ben Casparius to take Graterol’s place on the roster, while catcher Austin Barnes was activated after he was placed on the IL on Sept. 16 with a fractured left big toe. Catcher Hunter Feduccia was optioned.
SAYING BYE TO THE BAY
Not long after the final out was made in the Oakland Athletics’ final game in the Bay Area on Thursday, Dodgers right-hander Blake Treinen reflected on the situation. Treinen pitched for the A’s from 2017-19.
“It sucks for the fans and I feel for them because they’re blue collar fans,” said Treinen, a Kansas native. “It’s how I grew up, blue collar. I hope my mindset has never changed and that’s why I really, really appreciate it and felt like I was close with the fans there.”
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One of Treinen’s best seasons came in an A’s uniform, when he had an 0.78 ERA and 38 saves in 2018. He made his only All-Star Game appearance and finished sixth in the American League Cy Young Award voting.
“So it’s going to be weird thinking of the history,” Treinen said. “Could you imagine an organization like Boston just packing up and leaving and going to Charlotte? And it’s like, ‘They’re the Boston … no I’m sorry, the Charlotte Red Sox.”
“It’s just kind of sad to see that it has been given up on.”
ALSO
The Dodgers activated left-handed reliever Anthony Banda from the IL after he recovered from a hairline fracture in his left hand and placed right-handed reliever Brent Honeywell Jr. on the IL with a cracked fingernail on his right middle finger. … Rookie outfielder Andy Pages will get his first taste of the postseason, with Roberts saying, “I can’t see a world where he’s not on the playoff roster.”
UP NEXT
Dodgers (TBA in a bullpen game) at Rockies (RHP Cal Quantrill, 8-10, 4.72 ERA), Friday, 5:10 p.m. PT, SportsNet LA, 570 AM
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, center, speaks with reporters before a game against the San Diego Padres on Thursday at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)