L.A.’s Kershaw unlikely to be ready for playoffs

Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw returned to the injured list Saturday, days before Los Angeles begins a postseason defense of its World Series championship.

The three-time Cy Young Award winner has left forearm discomfort, the same injury that sidelined him for 57 games from Aug. 9 to Sept. 13.

Kershaw left his start Friday night against Milwaukee after 12⁄3 innings. He gave up three runs with one strikeout. He is 10-8 with a 3.38 ERA, his highest since 4.26 as a rookie in 2008.

“Chances are, it’s not looking great for October right now,” Kershaw said. “I just wanted to be a part of this team going through October. This team is special.”

The team recalled former Santa Clara right-hander Mitch White.

Kershaw, who is eligible for free agency this winter, may have pitched his final game for Los Angeles.

“It was difficult. It was his last home start. You just don’t know what the future will predict, so I wanted it to be special for him and his family,” manager Dave Roberts said. “It didn’t end the way we hoped.”

Medical report: Yankees infielder DJ LeMahieu missed his second consecutive game Saturday because of a sports hernia that will require offseason surgery. LeMahieu received a cortisone injection Friday and the team hopes he can return to the lineup Sunday . ... The Cubs placed reliever Tommy Nance on the COVID-19 injured list. Earlier in the week teammates Patrick Wisdom, Austin Romine, David Bote and Nick Martini went on the COVID-19 IL. Briefly: The Rockies removed the interim label from general manager Bill Schmidt. He had been the interim GM since May, replacing Jeff Bridich after he resigned in late April . ... The Cubs promoted former Giants minor-leaguer Joe Biagini, a right-hander who is a King’s Academy-Sunnyvale alum, from Triple-A Iowa.