PHOENIX _ Clayton Kershaw played catch Monday morning, as scheduled, after going four days without throwing a baseball as he dealt with shoulder inflammation. It did not go as well as he had hoped it would.
Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Kershaw "didn't feel great" after the throwing session, which was conducted on flat ground with Walker Buehler.
When he will throw again is unclear.
"It might be another day or two before he picks it again," Roberts said. "So right now, I think it's safe to say that he didn't feel great coming out of it.
"Where that has us right now, I really don't know. But I know he'll probably take a step back until he starts feeling better."
Kershaw, 30, had been given anti-inflammatory medication during his break from throwing but didn't undergo any testing.
Roberts said Monday that Kershaw is not scheduled for an MRI exam.
"I think the medical staff's got a handle on it," Roberts said. "I'll touch base with them this evening and figure out the course of action for Clayton."
Kershaw was initially slated to play catch again Tuesday before throwing a light bullpen session, perhaps later in the week.
He had previously thrown last Wednesday, when he logged a bullpen session. His shoulder began bothering him two days earlier during a live batting practice session.
On Sunday, Roberts suggested Kershaw's effort to throw harder after having his velocity drop last season could have contributed to his setback.
Kershaw has spent time on the injured list because of a shoulder injury once in his career; he missed time in 2014 because of a shoulder strain.
The season is still a month away, but Kershaw, named the Dodgers' opening-day starter last week, is a question mark the team didn't foresee.
"It's not ideal," Roberts said. "You hope when he picks up the ball, he comes out of it feeling better. So, obviously it's not ideal, but we'll deal with whatever comes our way."
