Clayton Kershaw’s return with the Dodgers remains ‘uncertain’

Reporting from Washington, D.C. —  Clayton Kershaw experienced a recurrence of soreness in his back after throwing a four-inning simulated game on Saturday at Dodger Stadium. The outing was intended to be his last tuneup before he rejoined the big-league roster. Instead, Kershaw will be shut down until his pain goes away.

Kershaw has not pitched since June 26 due to a herniated disk. Manager Dave Roberts indicated a date for his return to the Dodgers is “uncertain.”

“I don’t know if it’s a step back,” Roberts said before Tuesday’s game against Washington. “But we’re going to let the back pain subside and see where we go.”

The situation cannot be considered a step forward. The Dodgers had initially hoped Kershaw could pitch on either Thursday in Washington or Friday in St. Louis.

The team already placed starter Hyun-Jin Ryu on the disabled list on Tuesday. With Kershaw unavailable and Ryu scratched from his start, Bud Norris will take the ball on Wednesday and Julio Urias will start on Thursday. And Kershaw will stay in Los Angeles.

“Clayton is going to do everything he can to get back,” Roberts said. “But, yeah, we’re better when he’s active, obviously. It’s something we’ve got to deal with. We’ve got to continue to try to win baseball games.”

Kershaw has not picked up a baseball since Saturday. Roberts could not say when Kershaw would be able to do so again.

“Obviously, when you’re dealing with the back, there’s always some concern, certainly,” Roberts said. “But you’re just hoping in the coming days there is some improvement.”

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