The Dodgers will turn to ace Clayton Kershaw for Monday night's Game 4 of the National League Division Series against the Braves, the team announced Monday afternoon.
Kershaw (16-9, 1.83 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, 232 strikeouts), the prohibitive favorite for NL Cy Young and arguably the greatest pitcher in baseball, gets the nod for the Dodgers, who are one NLDS victory from clinching a berth in the National League Championship Series (which starts on Friday).
Dodgers starter Ricky Nolasco was originally set to pitch in Game 4 with Kershaw available for Game 5 if necessary.
Los Angeles will now likely start a fully-rested Zack Greinke, the team's No. 2 starter and the losing pitcher in Game 2, if the NLDS is forced to a fifth and final game.
Here's where things get interesting: In his major-league career, Kershaw has never pitched on just three days rest. But even with Los Angeles holding a 2-1 lead in this best-of-five series, the Dodgers are theoretically going all-in on their biggest stud — despite logging 124 pitches for Game 1 (12 strikeouts on Thursday).
For the Braves, 37-year-old pitcher Freddy Garcia (1.65 ERA in six appearances with Atlanta) takes the mound in Monday's must-win game.
