Dodgers set post All-Star break starting rotation with rest, Giants in mind

LOS ANGELES -- The Dodgers will shuffle their starting rotation during the All-Star break with a combination of rest and their National League West race with the Giants in mind, manager Don Mattingly said on Saturday.

The Dodgers open their post All-Star break schedule on Friday, July 18 in St. Louis. Against the Cardinals, the Dodgers will start Dan Haren, Zack Greinke and Clayton Kershaw. The team travels next to Pittsburgh to play the Pirates, with Hyun-jin Ryu starting the opener, followed by Josh Beckett's spot, then Haren again.

That allows Greinke, Kershaw and Ryu to start against the Giants in San Francisco on July 25-27, all on five days rest.

"We have kind put together our rotation trying to give everybody maximum rest, using the break for that," Mattingly said. "Then you're just looking at the schedule trying to match up."

Mattingly called the July 22 start in Pittsburgh, the middle game against the Pirates, "up in the air," though he did say he expected Beckett, currently on the disabled list with a left him impingement, to be able to pitch if not that day then shortly after. Off days on July 24 and July 28 give the Dodgers flexibility to maneuver around Beckett's spot if needed.

Coming out of the break, Haren will pitch on six days rest and Ryu on seven days rest. Greinke and Kershaw will each have nine days in between starts, but both are expected to pitch at least one inning for the National League on Tuesday in the All-Star Game in Minnesota.

Mattingly said he has been exchanging text messages with Cardinals manager Mike Matheny, the manager for the National League, about the availability of Kershaw and Greinke for the game. For Kershaw, there is a chance he could start the game, which would likely mean pitching two innings instead of one.

"That day works out for [Kershaw], and the way we've got him scheduled, he could go two [innings]," Mattingly said. "I don't know what Mike is going to do starter-wise."

Adam Wainwright of the Cardinals, the only other realistic option to start the All-Star Game, pitched seven innings in a win for St. Louis on Saturday afternoon in Milwaukee.