LOS ANGELES (AP) — Clayton Kershaw is hopeful he can pitch in the postseason for the Los Angeles Dodgers, even though his persistent toe injury has still not healed.

The three-time National League Cy Young Award winner limited himself to playing catch-hits instead of face hitters this week. Kershaw was placed on the injured list on August 31 with a bone spur in his left big toe. He didn’t pitch until July 25 after suffering an offseason shoulder injury.

“I’m not giving up,” Kershaw said Thursday before the Dodgers series finale against San Diego. “I keep trying every day. Maybe in a day it will feel better. I’m waiting for that day to come.”

Because of his toe, Kershaw can’t throw the way he wants, and other parts of his body overcompensate.

“Every time my toe feels better, I feel confident that things will go well,” he said. “But other things come up when I don’t throw normally. There is only a maximum percentage I can throw now.

The 36-year-old southpaw was 2-2 with a 4.50 ERA in seven starts before getting injured.

Manager Dave Roberts said Kershaw still needs to build himself up, throw a bullpen session and face hitters.

“He’s just not going to be viable for the next few weeks, and then we’ll see what that looks like in terms of our playoff fortunes,” Roberts said.

The 10-time All-Star said doctors have assured him he won’t need surgery.

“It’s something that takes time, I think, and that’s the worst part because I’m not good at that,” Kershaw said. “My arm, I keep it moving as best I can. I really think when my toe gets better, I’ll be ready to pitch. I have to get close to 100% so I can throw.”

He’s eager to redeem himself after last year’s stunning postseason debacle. Kershaw got hammered by Arizona in Game 1 of the National League Division Series, giving up six hits and six runs in the first inning.

His postseason ERA is 4.22 over 194 innings pitched. His regular-season ERA of 2.48 is the best among all MLB pitchers with at least 1,500 innings pitched since 1920.

Kershaw signed a one-year contract plus a player option for 2025 worth $5 million in February, which, if healthy by the end of this season, could escalate by $15 million based on criteria regarding starts or relief innings .

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