LOS ANGELES – Clayton Kershaw, who has spent the past five weeks rehabbing an ailing toe, will not pitch this postseason no matter how far the Los Angeles Dodgers advance. But the Dodgers immediately got good news a little more than two hours before Game 1 of the National League Division Series on Saturday, when Freddie Freeman was inserted into the starting lineup.

Freeman’s status was in serious question as the Dodgers began their pregame work on Saturday, but he took the field around 2:45 PM PT for some light baserunning and defensive work and felt well enough when he came out. He then moved in to hit one of the Dodgers’ fast pitching machines, after which the team moved him to first base and his usual No. 3 spot in the lineup.

Freeman sprained his right ankle while dodging a tag at first base on September 26 and spent the past eight days rehabbing the injury. He expressed confidence he would start Game 1 during a meeting with the media Thursday, saying his right ankle was “good enough.” But his status changed the next day, when Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said earlier Saturday afternoon that he was “not as hopeful as yesterday.”

Before Freeman declared he was ready, the Dodgers were working with Max Muncy at first base and Enrique Hernandez at third base – their preferred lineup if Freeman were unavailable at any point in this series.

Freeman’s status will continue to be debated in the NLDS, but Kershaw’s is final.

“We’re closing the door,” Roberts said. “Clayton has done everything he can to move this thing forward and give himself a chance to compete in the postseason. But where he is right now, physically, the foot and the toe just aren’t cooperating.”

Kershaw underwent shoulder surgery last season and didn’t make his season debut until July 25, leaving his Aug. 30 start in the second inning with what was subsequently diagnosed as a bone spur in his left big toe. Kershaw continued to keep his throwing arm active and had his spikes adjusted to compensate for the pain in his tender toe. But his throwing progress was halted last week because compensating for it caused pain in other parts of his body during labor.

“It got pretty mentally exhausting to keep trying to pitch,” Kershaw said. “It just kept hurting so I got another MRI. I made it worse so there’s no point in continuing at this point. It’s a shame. Obviously super frustrated. It really is. It doesn’t get better, so I can’t pitch.”

The Dodgers went with Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Jack Flaherty, Walker Buehler and Landon Knack as starters for their NLDS showdown against the rival San Diego Padres, with Yamamoto and Flaherty starting Games 1 and 2, respectively. The only mildly surprising selection decision was to move rookie right-hander Edgardo Henriquez, who has made just three appearances but throws his fastball into the triple figures, over veteran Joe Kelly.

Roberts revealed that Kelly suffered a shoulder injury earlier this week while throwing a changeup on the final pitch of a simulated game. Kelly’s shoulder injury is similar to Brusdar Graterol’s, an ailment that opened up a spot for another young right-hander in Michael Grove. The Dodgers’ only chance to have Kelly available is if they advance to the World Series; Roberts said he also would not be available for the NL Championship Series.

When the Dodgers’ season ends, Kershaw, who may need surgery on his left big toe, will reconsider whether to retire or pitch next season. His contract includes a $5 million player option, including up to $20 million in additional performance incentives.

“My shoulder feels great, my back feels great, all that stuff,” Kershaw, 36, said. “I don’t know. Obviously I don’t want to get hurt all the time. It’s not fun to do that. But I also really love pitching. I just have to weigh everything and talk about it, just think about it.” out.”