Kershaw hopes to return from toe injury: 'Beyond frustrating'

Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander Clayton Kershaw remains hopeful of returning from a toe injury before the end of the season.

"It’s beyond frustrating," Kershaw said Monday, per The Athletic's Fabian Ardaya. "Because my body feels great. Shoulder, back, everything feels really good. It’s just that last little bit. If you can’t push off, you can’t create what you need to create. So I have to find a way to be able to push off. So yeah, it’s super frustrating, especially where we’re at as a team. But I still have some hope that I’ll be able to be in the conversation. That’s the goal right now."

Kershaw is sidelined with a bone spur in his toe. The 36-year-old returned for four starts after missing the first half of the season following offseason shoulder surgery.

"I can’t really have any delays," Kershaw said with the postseason just over three weeks away.

Kershaw posted a 2-2 record with a 4.50 ERA and 24 strikeouts across 30 innings before sustaining the injury.

The three-time Cy Young winner is one of a handful of Dodgers pitchers currently on the injured list, including Tyler Glasnow, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Gavin Stone. Yamamoto is expected to be activated to start Tuesday's game against the Chicago Cubs.