“Normal rest” doesn’t appear to be a phrase that’s in the vocabulary of Los Angeles Dodgers lefty ace Clayton Kershaw this postseason.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said on Tuesday that, while he has yet to speak to Kershaw specifically about potentially starting Game 5 of the NLCS against the Chicago Cubs, the three-time NL Cy Young Award winner is “prepared for anything,” per Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register.
Dave Roberts said he hasn't talked to Kershaw re: potential Game 5 start: "He's prepared for anything"
— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) October 18, 2016
Kershaw dazzled in his Game 2 start, limiting the Cubs to two hits and one walk while striking out six over seven shutout innings as the Dodgers picked up the 1-0 victory to even the series at one game apiece. What’s even more impressive is that the outing came just three days after Kershaw picked up a high-leverage save in a winner-take-all NLDS Game 5 against the Washington Nationals to help the Dodgers advance to the NLCS and just five days after he threw 110 pitches starting Game 4 against the Nationals.
While the Dodgers are currently slated to have NLCS Game 1 starter Kenta Maeda back on the hill for Thursday’s Game 5, that could change based on how the next two games play out, particularly if the Dodgers head into Game 5 facing elimination. If Kershaw does wind up getting the nod over Maeda, he would be pitching on three days rest. For a guy who has almost been forcing his way to the mound so far this postseason, we probably shouldn’t expect anything different from him at this point.
H/T Rotoworld
