The Los Angeles Dodgers don't plan to play out the stretch without their ace, according to manager Dave Roberts, who told MLB Network Radio on Friday that the club expects ailing left-hander Clayton Kershaw back at some point in September.

Out since late June with a herniated disc in his back, Kershaw isn't eligible to return until Aug. 27, having been transferred to the 60-day disabled list earlier this week, but Roberts suggested the move doesn't mean the three-time Cy Young Award winner is done for the season.

"That's more of a mechanical logistic type move. He wasn't going to be ready before that anyway," Roberts told MLB.com's Ken Gurnick on Wednesday. "He's doing exercises and progression. Hopefully he'll be back sooner than later. I haven't heard anything new. Just leaving it to the doctors and Clayton to stabilize the back."

Kershaw hasn't resumed throwing, however, since suffering a setback in a simulated game July 16, and Roberts admitted it'll take some time to build his arm strength back up.

"We haven't talked about (building up arm strength), it makes sense to do that," Roberts said. "But we're taking the approach, when he can pick up a baseball we'll see where we're at, and if it's feasible. We've been reluctant as far as having a deadline and a timetable. He doesn't have pain, it's strengthening and stabilizing."

Kershaw, who leads all pitchers with 5.5 WAR in 2016 despite spending the last five weeks on the disabled list, owns a 1.79 ERA (217 ERA+) with a 0.73 WHIP and 16.11 strikeout-to-walk ratio through 16 starts, allowing two earned runs or fewer in all but two of his outings.