Los Angeles Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw could return Friday

Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Sunday that Clayton Kershaw is expected to return the Dodgers' rotation on Friday against the Miami Marlins.

Kershaw has been sidelined since June 26 with a herniated disc in his back.

He returned the mound on Saturday in a rehab start for the Dodgers' Class-A affiliate, the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes.

Kershaw struck out five in his three innings of work, allowing one hit and no runs on 34 pitches, including 23 strikes.

"We're still ironing some stuff out," Kershaw said after the game, according to MLB.com. "At this point, it's more of a pitch-count deal, making sure that I can contribute and not just go out there. It helps that it's September. We got a lot of guys in the bullpen. We're still working kinks out, but we'll see."

The Dodgers entered Sunday's action in first place in the National League West, two games ahead of the Giants. When Kershaw was sidelined following his June 26 loss, the Dodgers trailed the Giants by eight games.

Kershaw, who won the National League Cy Young Award in 2011, 2013 and 2014, is 11-2 with a 1.79 earned-run average this season.