Kershaw: 'There is a lot of gray area' in rehab process

Los Angeles Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw failed to provide much of a timeline for a projected return Tuesday as he deals with a setback in his rehab from a back injury.

"There is a lot of gray area, it's the best way to say it," Kershaw told reporters of his rehab. "You have to go based on your symptoms. I didn't have any pain leading to when I pitched, and now I have to wait until I feel no pain again."

Kershaw was placed on the disabled list June 30 after receiving an epidural to relieve pain in his lower back. He was then shut down indefinitely last week after his back began to act up during his rehab.

"I just knew something was not right," Kershaw said. "I definitely felt it where I shouldn't have felt it. I had crossed a lot of hurdles and did a lot of things I needed to do to get back. Pitching is definitely what caused the setback."

The Dodgers have surprisingly gone 15-8 since Kershaw went down, but that's thanks in large part to the offense as Los Angeles' starters own a 4.53 ERA since he landed on the DL.

Manager Dave Roberts acknowledged last week the team is hopeful Kershaw would return this season, though surgery could be an option.

"With the way it flared up, it's more of an indication that surgery is more of a possibility," Roberts said.