Clayton Kershaw won’t need surgery, but will miss postseason

Clayton Kershaw will miss the entirety of the Dodgers postseason with left forearm and elbow discomfort, which was pretty much expected. But Kershaw won’t need Tommy John surgery.

“The great thing is the scan showed no ligament damage. That’s something that’s a sigh of relief for everyone,” manager Dave Roberts said Tuesday.

Kershaw left Friday’s start in the second inning with left forearm discomfort, in his fourth start back after missing 10 weeks with inflammation and soreness in his left elbow and forearm. He was placed on the injured list on Saturday.

“Obviously, that’s not the way any of us wanted to see him walk off the mound at Dodger Stadium, knowing what’s in the future and knowing very well possibly could have been the last time. Hopefully not,” third baseman Justin Turner said Tuesday. “But he’s with us in spirit.”

Kershaw is a free agent at the end of the season. Last week he said free agency wasn’t on his mind just yet.

“My future is going to take care of itself. I’m not really worried about that right now. I really wanted to be with this group going into October,” Kershaw said Friday. “I haven’t wrapped my head around [free agency], and I don’t plan to anytime soon.”

Kershaw was at Tuesday’s team workout at Dodger Stadium, as was Max Muncy, whose dislocated elbow could mean he’ll miss the entire postseason as well, though the Dodgers haven’t yet officially ruled out Muncy. Both Kershaw and Muncy will remain with the team however long their postseason run lasts.

“I just wanted to be a part of this team going into October. This team is special,” Kershaw said Friday. “I know we’re going to do something special this year, and I wanted to be a part of that.”