Hyun-jin Ryu named Dodgers NLDS Game 3 starter

LOS ANGELES -- Dodgers pitcher Hyun-jin Ryu received good news on his left shoulder, and is scheduled to start Game 3 of the National League Division Series against the Cardinals on Monday in St. Louis, manager Don Mattingly announced on Thursday.

Ryu threw a 45-pitch, three-inning simulated game on Wednesday afternoon at Dodger Stadium without discomfort in his left shoulder. The left-hander has been sidelined with left shoulder inflammation since leaving his Sept. 12 start against the Giants in San Francisco after just one inning.

"Everything went well yesterday," Ryu said. "I feel good right now."

Mattingly said there would be no restrictions on Ryu, will have 23 days rest by the time his Monday start rolls around.

"He's pretty much a 100-110 [pitch] guy all year long. We don't expect him to be much different than that. We don't feel like he's lost a ton of arm strength, this is late in the year," Mattingly said. "If anything, Hyun-jin is the right guy for missing this much time."

Ryu also went 23 days in between starts in April and May with left shoulder inflammation, and like this time returned with only a few bullpen sessions and a simulated game in between.

"It's a little different than last time," Ryu explained. "I feel better than last time, thanks to the cortisone shot I didn't feel as much pain."

Mattingly said Dan Haren would start Game 4, but I'm not sure how many people actually believed him. With multiple off days, the Dodgers could have Clayton Kershaw start Game 4 on three days rest, as he did in 2013, and still have Zack Greinke ready for Game 5 on normal four days rest.

But for Kershaw, who will start Game 1 on Friday afternoon, Thursday was not the time to talk about Game 4.

"It's too hard for me to think about future starts. I have to think about tomorrow," Kershaw said. "Last year it wasn't a problem."

★★★

The Dodgers weren't ready yet to announce their NLDS roster, though Mattingly said the decisions are about "98 percent" done. Mattingly did say that pitchers Kevin Correia and Chris Perez were told they were not going to be on the roster. Both went home and will stay loose just in case, but it's unlikely either would be called upon.

NLDS rosters are due Friday morning.