Dodgers left-hander Clayton Kershaw paid a visit to Dr. Bryan Kelly in New York on Tuesday afternoon for an examination of his right hip, then rejoined his teammates in the nation’s capital with decent news.

According to Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times, Kershaw was diagnosed during that exam with a right hip impingement. He does not need season-ending surgery and has been cleared to resume throwing side sessions immediately.

If Kershaw can pitch through a bit of lingering discomfort, he should be allowed to return to the Dodgers’ rotation by the end of the regular season. But if the pain proves to be too much, he will be shut down.

The 24-year-old has registered a fantastic 2.70 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 206/53 K/BB ratio across 206 2/3 innings (30 starts) this season. He is under contract for the 2013 campaign at a salary of $11 million.