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Surgery a possibility for Kershaw; Roberts 'hopeful' for 2016 return

Tom Szczerbowski / Getty Images Sport / Getty

One day after Clayton Kershaw was shut down indefinitely, Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts suggested surgery is a more likely avenue to repair the herniated disc in the left-hander's back and is merely "hopeful" the 28-year-old can return in 2016.

"With the way it flared up, it's more of an indication that surgery is more of a possibility," Roberts told MLB.com's Alex Putterman on Wednesday.

Roberts clarified, though, that the increased likelihood of surgery wasn't relayed by his medical staff, and that he merely inferred surgery grew likelier after Kershaw suffered a setback Saturday, when he "didn't feel great" during his 60-pitch simulated game.

Kershaw, who won't resume baseball activities until his back pain subsides, hasn't pitched in a game since June 26, when he allowed four runs on nine hits and two walks over six innings against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Through 16 starts this season, the three-time Cy Young award winner owns an MLB-best 1.79 ERA, 0.73 WHIP, and 16.11 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 121 innings.

"He's disappointed because he knows he can help us," Roberts said. "But his focus is on getting back this year."

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