Dodgers manager not ruling out surgery for ace Clayton Kershaw

A day after saying Clayton Kershaw had suffered a setback in his return from a back injury, Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts acknowledged Wednesday that surgery is a possibility for the staff ace.

Roberts, speaking before Wednesday night's game with the Nationals in Washington, said that Kershaw is not reporting evidence of nerve damage, the sort of symptoms that would predict the need for surgery. He said he is still hopeful Kershaw won't need surgery.

Kershaw, on the disabled list with a mild disk herniation, has not pitched since June 26 at Pittsburgh. He suffered his second loss of the season in that outing, when he gave up four runs on nine hits in six innings. A day later, he was being examined for back issues that were being downplayed at the time, but he ended up on the disabled list by the end of the week.

The Dodgers felt their top pitcher might be ready for a return on the current road trip that ends Sunday at St. Louis, but discomfort after a simulated start Saturday at Dodger Stadium has nixed those plans.