ST. LOUIS — Los Angeles Dodgers manager Don Mattingly saw no reason to tip his hand before the National League Division Series started, but he figured all along that if there were a Game 4, he would use ace left-hander Clayton Kershaw on three days’ rest.
Mattingly made it official Monday afternoon, declaring Kershaw as his starter for Tuesday’s contest against St. Louis in Busch Stadium. After the Cardinals’ 3-1 win Monday night, the Dodgers trail two games to one in the best-of-five series, meaning Kershaw will be pitching to save his team’s postseason.
“We couldn’t really make that decision until after Game 1, and then seeing how Clayton came out of that,” Mattingly said. “He’s our best guy. Obviously, it’s not something we would even think about doing over the course of the (regular) season, but this is a different time.”
Kershaw came back on short rest in last year’s NLDS, working six good innings against the Atlanta Braves in a no-decision. He allowed two runs, both unearned. Mattingly said that result helped influence the decision to give Kershaw the ball Tuesday.
After Friday’s 10-9 loss to the Cardinals, when Kershaw gave up eight runs and eight hits in 6 2/3 innings, the lefty wondered aloud when the Dodgers would want him to pitch again. The probable NL Cy Young Award winner is ready for the challenge of throwing on short trest.
“I definitely wanted to do it,” he said. “I was ready to do it, regardless. You try to stay as even-keeled as you possibly can and just prepare for the next one.”