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LOS ANGELES -- Clayton Kershaw is growing more optimistic that he will return to pitch for the Los Angeles Dodgers this season, encouraged Tuesday after another bullpen session to test his ailing lower back.Kershaw, who has not pitched in a game since June 26, warmed up on flat ground in the Dodger Stadium outfield and then threw 41 pitches to regular catcher A.J. Ellis in the left-field bullpen.It was a good test, Kershaw said afterward. We got to go through sequences, simulating facing hitters. It was all good steps. I feel good and Im ready for the next step. Im not quite sure what that is at the moment. It will be either another [bullpen] or facing hitters.Kershaw has been trying to rehab what was originally diagnosed as a minor disk herniation. He had one simulated start in mid-July, just after the All-Star break, against Dodgers minor leaguers, but reported more discomfort and was shut down again.No timetable has ever been given for Kershaws return, and the left-hander would not guarantee he would pitch this season, saying only that he has optimism.Its such a hard question, he said when asked if he will pitch this year. I was this far last time too. Im optimistic obviously, but its just that I need to face hitters to know. I need to know that with that added intensity that I will come out of it OK.When Kershaw does eventually face hitters, it could possibly be in a simulated game session. He could then go on a minor league rehab assignment, but the regular season in the minor leagues ends the first week of September.I didnt get a chance to put eyes on him but in talking to [pitching coach] Rick [Honeycutt] and hearing from Kersh, he was really encouraged, manager Dave Roberts said. I think it will be a couple of days of playing catch and then ramp up to 60 pitches and then well see where to go from there. But today was a good day for us.Kershaw was 11-2 in 16 starts this season before his injury. He had a 1.79 ERA in 121 innings and had 145 strikeouts to just nine walks. He also seemed confident he could reach something resembling his top form when he ultimately returns.I dont like to take things for granted, Kershaw said. Thats why I try to do everything like I did before, because I feel like if I take a day off, I might forget. Thankfully, I feel like I have some muscle memory built up to remember how to do it. It was a little better than I thought it would be today, so thats a good sign. Cheap Clippers Jerseys .C. - The Carolina Hurricanes have placed backup goalie Anton Khudobin on injured reserve with an unspecified lower-body injury. Chris Paul Jersey Large . With the short-handed Warriors needing help from someone -- anyone -- to stop a three-game skid, ONeal returned from right knee and groin injuries that had sidelined him for four games and put up season highs with 18 points and eight rebounds. It was just enough to help lift Golden State to a 102-101 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday night. http://www.customclippersjersey.com/ . The catch: It needs a lot of money, and it needs it fast. Cheap Clippers Jerseys . - Levi Browns tenure at left tackle for the Pittsburgh Steelers is over before it even began. Cheap Custom Clippers Jersey . -- If Henry Burris has his way, he will be the starting quarterback to lead the Hamilton Tiger-Cats back to the Grey Cup next year. Five games into whats looking like another lost season, this much is clear: The?San Diego Chargers need to rebuild. And that means they should at least consider trading star quarterback Philip Rivers.Its hard to ever recommend that a team give up a star-level starting quarterback. Such quarterbacks are some of the most consistent and longest-lasting assets in the game. Theres a reason the?New England Patriots?have exported about three generations of backup quarterbacks for draft picks over Tom Bradys sterling career. Even on a team as bereft of talent as the Chargers, Rivers has led them to fifth in offensive Defense-adjusted Value Over Average through Week 5.ddddddddddddYou might be a bit surprised to see us making this case, as the Chargers are 11th overall in DVOA and have been more unlucky than completely bad in 2016. But as has usually been the case in San Diego, injuries have decimated the team. ' ' '