True Blue LA - NLDS Game 3: Cardinals 3, Dodgers 1Where The Dodger Dogs Are Always Grilledhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/49563/truebluela_fav.png2014-10-15T19:27:37-07:00http://www.truebluela.com/rss/stream/66813162014-10-15T19:27:37-07:002014-10-15T19:27:37-07:00Kemp to be fined for NLDS strike zone comments
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<figcaption>Scott Rovak-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> outfielder <span>Matt Kemp</span> will be fined for his comments about umpire Dale Scott and his strike zone after Game 3 of the NLDS, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/writer/jon-heyman/24753398/kemp-will-receive-a-fine-after-lambasting-dale-scotts-iffy-strike-zone">reports Jon Heyman of CBS Sports</a>.</p>
<p>Down 3-1, Kemp led off the ninth inning of Game 3 of the NLDS at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, and struck out looking against <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.vivaelbirdos.com/">Cardinals</a> closer Trevor Rosenthal. Kemp did not like the call, and shared his thoughts with home plate umpire Dale Scott.</p>
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<p>After the game, Kemp was even more vocal.</p>
<p>"Terrible. Terrible strike zone," Kemp told reporters after Game 3, <a target="_blank" href="http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/mlb/story/_/id/11656817/2014-mlb-playoffs-matt-kemp-los-angeles-dodgers-calls-umpire-terrible-strike-zone">per Mark Saxon of ESPN</a>. "I've never seen anything like it. That's disappointing because you've got guys out there battling. You know, this is two good teams going at it, and it's supposed to be the teams, not the umpire, and I just feel like the umpire took the bat out of our hands today."</p>
<p>Dodgers manager Don Matingly also disagreed with the strike zone of the crew chief Scott, though chose his words more carefully than did Kemp.</p>
<p>"We had a lot of guys complaining about the strike zone. And we felt like he was really generous. And it puts you on a bind. You keep giving pitches, changing counts," Mattingly said, <a target="_blank" href="http://m.mlb.com/news/article/97817608/matt-kemp-irked-by-strike-zone-in-dodgers-game-3-loss">per Ken Gurnick of MLB.com</a>. "Obviously, you can't go too far with it. But real generous."</p>
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<p>The amount of the fine for Kemp is not yet known, but it will be interesting to see if his penalty is more than <a target="_blank" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mlb/2014/10/10/6960591/yadier-molina-fine-nlds-umpire-jerry-meals">the $5,000 fine levied to Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina</a> for a brief shove of umpire Jerry Meals during Game 1 of the series.</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2014/10/15/6986233/matt-kemp-fined-nlds-dale-scott-strike-zone-dodgers-cardinalsEric Stephen2014-10-06T21:17:24-07:002014-10-06T21:17:24-07:00Dodgers lack of offense highlights lack of bullpen
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<figcaption>Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> couldn't score more than one run off <span>John Lackey</span>, and it brought their greatest weakness into play. The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.vivaelbirdos.com/">Cardinals</a> pounced on the Dodgers bullpen again for a 3-1 win in Game 3 of the NLDS on Monday night at Busch Stadium in St. Louis.</p>
<p>The Cardinals lead the best-of-five series two games to one.</p>
<p>With a 1-1 tie in the seventh inning, relief pitcher <span>Scott Elbert</span> allowed a double to <span>Yadier Molina</span> to open the inning, then after a sacrifice bunt allowed a two-run home run to <span>Kolten Wong</span>, the latest in a string of putrid performances out of the Dodgers' mess of a bullpen.</p>
<p>"It's not about managing. It's about choices," said Tom Verducci on the Fox Sports 1 broadcast, "and Don Mattingly has no good choices right now to get to his closer."</p>
<p>Verducci is right, though one choice Mattingly could have made was to have a right-handed pitcher face Molina to begin the inning before the pair of lefties were due up. But if Elbert can't get those left-handed batters out anyway, what does it matter?</p>
<p>If anything, give credit to Elbert for waiting until his third batter faced to allow a home run. In Game 1, first reliever <span>Pedro Baez</span> allowed a home run to his second batter - <span>Matt Holliday</span> - and in Game 2, <span>J.P. Howell</span> gave up a home run to his second batter - <span>Matt Carpenter</span>.</p>
<p><span>Hyun-Jin Ryu</span> gave the Dodgers everything they could have hoped for and more on Monday after 23 days between starts. He pitched six innings and struck out four, with only five hits and a walk allowed.</p>
<p>Ryu was removed after 94 pitches in part because it was his first start in over three weeks but more because his spot in the batting order came up in the seventh, and the game was still tied. The Dodgers, needing offense, chose to pinch hit <span>Scott Van Slyke</span>, who grounded out to end the frame.</p>
<p>The only run Ryu allowed was a home run by Carpenter, which is literally an everyday occurrence these days.</p>
<p>The left-handed-hitting Carpenter hit .262/.364/.361 against left-handed pitchers in 2014, not much different than his overall line of .272/.375/.375. But what was notable was his two home runs this year against left-handed pitchers in 218 regular season plate appearances.</p>
<p>Carpenter has three home runs - and two doubles - in 10 plate appearances against left-handed pitchers in the NLDS, with one home run in each game. Manager Don Mattingly made his awareness of Carpenter known in the in-game interview on Fox Sports 1.</p>
<p>"I'm thinking Stan Musial is somewhere rolling around in that body," Mattingly said. "Jesus."</p>
<p><span>Yasiel Puig</span> was going in the opposite direction, coming off the golden sombrero in Game 2 and struck out twice in his first two at-bats on Monday. That pushed his run of consecutive strikeouts to seven, <a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/Buster_ESPN/status/519312970485334016">one shy of the major league record in one postseason</a>.</p>
<p>But after the first strikeout, one of my favorite Twitter follows made a prediction.</p>
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<p>Puig will hit tonight just wait. for it.</p>
— PedroGuerrero (@PedroGuerreroLA) <a href="https://twitter.com/PedroGuerreroLA/status/519308200286633984">October 7, 2014</a>
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<p>In the sixth inning, in his third at-bat, Puig broke the strikeout string with a hard line drive into the right field corner for a stand-up triple to lead off the inning. That triple by Puig was unique in Dodgers lore.</p>
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<p>Yasiel Puig: 1st Dodgers CF with triple in postseason game since <span>Pedro Guerrero</span> in 1981 World Series Game 6</p>
— Katie Sharp (@ktsharp) <a href="https://twitter.com/ktsharp/status/519321504639901696">October 7, 2014</a>
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<p>After a short pop up to left field by <span>Adrian Gonzalez</span> not deep enough to score Puig and a strikeout by <span>Matt Kemp</span>, it looked like Puig might get stranded on third base. But then <span>Hanley Ramirez</span> lined a first-pitch double to right field to finally get the Dodgers on the board, scoring Puig to tie the game at 1-1.</p>
<p>But outside of getting <span>Dee Gordon</span> into scoring position in the first inning and stranding him, that was pretty much all the offense for the Dodgers, until Ramirez and <span>Carl Crawford</span> singled with one out in the ninth against closer <span>Trevor Rosenthal</span>, putting the tying runs on base.</p>
<p>Rosenthal got <span>Juan Uribe</span> and <span>A.J. Ellis</span> to fly out to right field to end the game.</p>
<h4>Up next</h4>
<p><span>Clayton Kershaw</span> gets the call in Game 4 on Tuesday afternoon, a 2:07 p.m. PT start. <span>Shelby Miller</span> starts for St. Louis, trying to advance to its ninth NLCS in the last 15 seasons.</p>
<h4>Game 3 particulars</h4>
<p><b>Home runs</b>: Matt Carpenter (3), Kolten Wong (1)</p>
<p><b>WP - John Lackey (1-0)</b>: 7 IP, 5 hits, 1 run, 1 walk, 8 strikeouts</p>
<p><b>LP - Scott Elbert (0-1)</b>: ⅔ IP, 3 hits, 2 runs</p>
<p><b>Sv - Trevor Rosenthal (2)</b>: 1 IP, 2 hits, 1 strikeout</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2014/10/6/6931635/dodgers-offense-bullpen-fail-nlds-cardinalsEric Stephen2014-10-06T16:46:54-07:002014-10-06T16:46:54-07:00Kershaw to start Game 4
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<figcaption>Kevork Djansezian</figcaption>
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<p>ST. LOUIS -- For the second straight season, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> will turn to <span>Clayton Kershaw</span> to pitch on short rest in Game 4 of the National League Division Series. But this year, though the decision had already been made, it wasn't announced just a few hours before game time. The Dodgers announced Kershaw would start Game 4 against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.vivaelbirdos.com/">Cardinals</a> before Game 3 on Monday night at Busch Stadium.</p>
<p>Kershaw will be on three days rest on Tuesday, but it leaves Game 5 for <span>Zack Greinke</span> on a full four days rest.</p>
<p>The bizarre Game 1 start by Kershaw - not pitching out of the stretch until the seventh inning, then getting battered for six hits and six runs in the eight-run inning that turned the game around - didn't dissuade manager Don Mattingly, who thankfully has a memory beyond a few days.</p>
<p>"It's Clayton Kershaw. I hate to say it like that," Mattingly said. "These kind of guys don't curl up and go away. You don't get to where you are, you don't win four ERA titles and end up going to win three out of the last four Cy Youngs, could have won all four of them, just by anything goes bad, you just curl up and go away. These guys go to work, they come back. They keep working and they keep going. So this is a different cat.</p>
<p>"He's our best guy."</p>
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<p>Kershaw pitched on three days rest in Game 4 of the 2013 NLDS against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.talkingchop.com/">Braves</a>, allowing two unearned runs in six innings in a no-decision at Dodger Stadium.</p>
<p><span>Dan Haren</span>, who was penciled in at least publicly to start Game 4, will be ready to pitch in any of the remaining games of the series as needed.</p>
<p>Game 4 will be held at 2:07 p.m. PT on Tuesday afternoon at Busch Stadium.</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2014/10/6/6917307/clayton-kershaw-game-4-dodgers-cardinals-nldsEric Stephen2014-10-06T12:28:30-07:002014-10-06T12:28:30-07:00Dodgers put faith in Ryu for Game 3
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<figcaption>Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>ST. LOUIS -- The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> turn to <span>Hyun-jin Ryu</span> in Game 3 of the NLDS against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.vivaelbirdos.com/">Cardinals</a>, placing their faith in someone who hasn't pitched in a major league game in 24 days.</p>
<p>Ryu struck out nine in 6⅔ innings against Arizona on Sept. 6, but that was the last time Ryu has lasted more than one inning in a start. One month ago today.</p>
<p>The left-hander dealt with shoulder inflammation, an injury that also caused him to go 23 days between starts in April and May, and one that knocked him off the mound after one inning in San Francisco on Sept. 12.</p>
<p>"If it wasn't Hyun‑jin, I would probably be a lot more nervous," manager Don Mattingly said. "But he seems to be able to not throw a whole lot and be pretty sharp."</p>
<p>Ryu has been on the disabled list two times this season, not counting his current injury, and in none of the previous stints did he need a minor league rehab start. Ryu was able to return with some combination of a simulated game and/or elongated bullpen session.</p>
<p>He won both return starts after the layoffs, striking out nine while allowing two runs in six innings against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.amazinavenue.com/">Mets</a> on May 21, and allowing one run in seven innings with seven strikeouts against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.gaslampball.com/">Padres</a> on Aug. 31.</p>
<p>Ryu will apparently be the fifth pitcher since 1950 to start in the postseason after not appearing in any of his team's final 15 games, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.baseballprospectus.com/a/24796">per Zachary Levine and Mike Gianella at Baseball Prospectus</a>. The previous four - Catfish Hunter, Kerry Wood, Aaron Cook and Jason Hammel - combined for a 5.21 ERA in 19 innings and four losses.</p>
<p>"You take it on faith, you take it to the heart," said noted scholar Thomas Petty. "The waiting is the hardest part."</p>
<p>When healthy, Ryu had a very good year. He was 14-7 with a 3.38 ERA in 26 starts, with 139 strikeouts and 29 walks in 152 innings.</p>
<p>Among the 102 major league pitchers with at least 150 innings pitched in 2014, Ryu <a target="_blank" href="http://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=all&stats=pit&lg=all&qual=150&type=8&season=2014&month=0&season1=2014&ind=0&team=0&rost=0&age=0&filter=&players=0&sort=17,a">ranked seventh in FIP</a> (2.62), 12th in xFIP (3.03), 20th in SIERA (3.17) and 19th in K-BB% (17.4%).</p>
<p>The Dodgers will face <span>John Lackey</span>, acquired from Boston at the trade deadline by the Cardinals. He was 3-3 with a 4.30 ERA in 10 starts for St. Louis, with 48 strikeouts and 15 walks in 60⅔ innings. The 35-year-old is also 6-5 with a 3.03 ERA in 19 career postseason games, including 16 starts, and has started and won two World Series clinching games, Game 7 in 2002 with the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.halosheaven.com/">Angels</a> and Game 6 in 2013 with the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.overthemonster.com/">Red Sox</a>.</p>
<p>"The pressure isn't anything new for John Lackey, which is part of the reason why we're excited to watch him pitch Game 3. This is a stage he's been on, and we've watched him excel on this stage. This is why he wanted to be over here, too," said Cardinals manager Mike Matheny. "He was excited about being a part of this club, realizing there was an opportunity to pitch in October. And once a veteran player gets a taste of this, they realize this is what it's about."</p>
<p>Lackey is 5-3 with a 1.93 ERA in 11 games against the Dodgers, including 10 starts. But he has only faced them once after 2009, allowing two runs in eight innings in a loss at Dodger Stadium in 2013.</p>
<p>Ryu has faced the Cardinals three times in his career, including the postseason, and has lasted exactly seven innings in all three starts, 2-1 with a 1.29 ERA, 18 strikeouts and two walks. He allowed one unearned run with seven strikeouts and no walks in a 2013 start in St. Louis, his only career start at Busch Stadium.</p>
<p>He pitched seven scoreless innings, allowing only three hits and a walk in Game 3 of the 213 NLCS against <span>Adam Wainwright</span>, a must-win for the Dodgers, down 0-2 in the series.</p>
<p>"I think the reason for Hyun‑jin is just his track record of kind of his work in between. That tells us so much about him. And then really, what's happened this year, what we've already been through this year," Mattingly said. "Hyun‑Jin is a guy that we trust. And he's been unflappable from the standpoint of anything that comes along he just seems to handle."</p>
<h4>Game info</h4>
<p>Time: 6:07 p.m. PT</p>
<p>TV: Fox Sports 1</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2014/10/6/6917331/hyun-jin-ryu-dodgers-cardinals-nlds-game-3-previewEric Stephen2014-10-06T11:03:17-07:002014-10-06T11:03:17-07:00Dodgers sordid playoff history in St. Louis
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<img alt="Jeff Weaver couldn't quite hold up against Mike Matheny and the Cardinals in 2004." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/zlwDcgCikB5a5NvK-pyC8DeZ5fY=/0x112:2100x1512/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/41052182/jeff-weaver-mike-matheny-2004-nlds.0.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Jeff Weaver couldn't quite hold up against Mike Matheny and the Cardinals in 2004. | <a href='http://www.gettyimages.com'>Getty Images</a></figcaption>
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<p>Nine games, one win, 19 total runs on offense.</p> <p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> - owners of the best road record in baseball - play the next two nights at Busch Stadium, looking to turn around their putrid postseason history in St. Louis.</p>
<h4>1985 NLCS</h4>
<p>The Dodgers won the first two games at home before heading to St. Louis for the middle three games.</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SLN/SLN198510120.shtml">Oct. 12 - Cardinals 4, Dodgers 2</a>: Bob Welch couldn't get out of the third inning, and the Dodgers couldn't come back.</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SLN/SLN198510130.shtml">Oct. 13 - Cardinals 12, Dodgers 2</a>: Jerry Reuss was chased in the <i>second</i> inning, allowing seven runs (two earned) while recording only five outs.</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SLN/SLN198510140.shtml">Oct. 14 - Cardinals 3, Dodgers 2</a>: After a pair of short starts, the Dodgers got eight strong innings out of Fernando Valenzuela, but the game was tied at 2-2 entering the ninth. Enter closer Tom Niedenfuer, strong all season. NBC flashed this graphic:</p>
<p align="center"><img src="http://cdn0.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/2328918/ozzie-smith-1985-nlcs.0.jpg"></p>
<p>Ozzie Smith homered. Game over.</p>
<h4>2004 NLDS</h4>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SLN/SLN200410050.shtml">Oct. 5 - Cardinals 8, Dodgers 3</a>: The Dodgers started in St. Louis, but the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.vivaelbirdos.com/">Cardinals</a> slammed five home runs in the opener, including three off <span>Odalis Perez</span> in 2&frac23; innings. Current manager Mike Matheny hit one of them. <span>Tom Wilson</span> homered in the ninth for the Dodgers.</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SLN/SLN200410070.shtml">Oct. 6 - Cardinals 8, Dodgers 3</a>: Two nights later, the Dodgers lost by the same score for a 2-0 series deficit, with another poor outing by the starting pitcher. <span>Jeff Weaver</span> allowed six runs and didn't get out of the fifth inning.</p>
<h4>2009 NLDS</h4>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SLN/SLN200910100.shtml">Oct. 10 - Dodgers 5, Cardinals 1</a>: Different Busch Stadium, different result for the Dodgers, who were up 2-0 in the series looking to close out the series. Future Opening Day starter <span>Vicente Padilla</span> pitched seven scoreless innings to help close out the Cardinals and advance the cause of open-button shirt wearers everywhere.</p>
<h4>2013 NLCS</h4>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SLN/SLN201310110.shtml">Oct. 11 - Cardinals 3, Dodgers 2 (13)</a>: <span>Zack Greinke</span> struck out 10 in eight innings, but this game would be more remembered for <span>Michael Young</span> getting subbed in for <span>Adrian Gonzalez</span>, <span>Mark Ellis</span> getting thrown out at home, and <span>Carlos Beltran</span> hitting a game-tying double just over the head of a gimpy-kneed <span>Andre Ethier</span> and center field and hit the walk-off single in the 13th.</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SLN/SLN201310120.shtml">Oct. 12 - Cardinals 1, Dodgers 0</a>: <span>Clayton Kershaw</span> allowed only two hits and one unearned run, but <span>Michael Wacha</span> was even better, striking out eight in 6&frac23; scoreless innings, giving St. Louis a 2-0 series lead.</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SLN/SLN201310180.shtml">Oct. 18 - Cardinals 9, Dodgers 0</a>: Down 3-2 in the series, the Dodgers were confident in at least sending the series to Game 7. But instead this is remembered now as the <i>other</i> terrible Kershaw playoff start against the Cardinals.</p>
<p>That's nine playoff games for the Dodgers in St. Louis, and one win. So far the pattern has been two-fold: (1) unless the Dodgers score more than three runs, they lose; and (2) unless the starting pitcher allows no runs, they lose.</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2014/10/6/6920363/dodgers-st-louis-busch-stadium-history-nldsEric Stephen2014-10-05T22:14:41-07:002014-10-05T22:14:41-07:00Haren slated for game 4, ready for anything
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<figcaption>Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Haren might start Game 4, he might pitch in long relief in Game 3, or he might not pitch at all in the NLDS.</p> <p>ST. LOUIS -- The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> head into Monday knowing they will play two games in St. Louis. There are two listed starting pitchers for Los Angeles for Games 3 and 4 of the NLDS against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.vivaelbirdos.com/">Cardinals</a>, but far less clarity of who might get the bulk of the next 18 innings.</p>
<p><span>Hyun-jin Ryu</span> is slated to start Game 3, free of the shoulder discomfort that caused him to leave a start on Sept. 12 after just one inning.</p>
<p>"I'm thinking that there's very little, almost zero percent chance that the injury is going to come back tomorrow. I'm not even thinking about it. I don't think it's good for my psyche to think that way," Ryu told reporters on Sunday. "I threw a few bullpen sessions and I went 100 percent, I felt great in all those sessions, I don't foresee a reason why I would feel anything tomorrow."</p>
<p>Manager Don Mattingly expressed similar faith in Ryu, who also missed over three weeks in April and May before returning with no minor league rehab starts to strike out nine in six solid innings in his first time back on the mound. But at the same time, the Dodgers have to remain prepared, especially since the last time Ryu lasted past the first inning in a start was Sept. 6, one month ago Monday.</p>
<p>That means <span>Dan Haren</span>, the scheduled starter for Game 4 on Tuesday, will be ready to pitch on Monday if needed.</p>
<p>"We don't think it's going to happen. But just because of what happened in San Francisco, after one inning, and 20‑something pitches, we've got to be prepared for that. So Danny is going to prepare for that to start tomorrow just like Hyun‑Jin is," Matingly said. "He's not going to go out and throw and do the long toss and all of that. Mentally he's going to be ready to pitch tomorrow.</p>
<p>"If it gets deeper in the game, then we would try to put it together with the bullpen. We wouldn't try to drag Danny into that."</p>
<p>If Haren isn't needed for Game 3, he is scheduled for Game 4, but even that is in doubt because of the two off days in the schedule provided by the best-of-five NLDS.</p>
<p>The Dodgers could, like they did in 2013 against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.talkingchop.com/">Braves</a>, opt to use <span>Clayton Kershaw</span> on three days rest in Game 4, with <span>Zack Greinke</span> set to pitch on full rest in a potential Game 5. Kershaw threw on Sunday to stay loose, but Mattingly was noncommittal.</p>
<p>"We're not making any commitment to Game 4 at this point besides Danny Haren. We're talking about a number of options," Mattingly said. "What happens if ‑‑ then is it Clayton or possibly <span>Carlos Frias</span> or somebody else? Again, we've got to make that decision depending on what goes on."</p>
<p>When asked if Haren pitching in Game 3 was the only way Kershaw would start Game 4 Mattingly said, "I didn't say that."</p>
<p>Mattingly was also asked if Monday's result would affect his Game 4 starter decision.</p>
<p>"Win/loss won't have anything to do with it," he said.</p>
<p>As a reminder, the Dodgers in the 2013 NLDS insisted that <span>Ricky Nolasco</span> would start Game 4 until only a few hours before game time, when Kershaw was announced.</p>
<p>The difference this year could be a stronger faith in the No. 4 starer. Nolasco stabilized the Dodgers rotation for the final three months of the season but was terrible over the final three weeks of the season, allowing 19 runs on 25 hits in 13 innings.</p>
<p>Haren had his ups and downs in 2014, but finished his year with a 2.43 ERA over his final 10 starts, with 50 strikeouts and eight walks in 59 innings.</p>
<p>As part of the general playoff interview schedule, the scheduled Game 4 starters will meet the media on Monday before Game 3 in St. Louis. Expect Haren in that interview for the Dodgers, but don't expect that to be a confirmation that he'll pitch on Tuesday.</p>
<p>We might not know until a few hours before Game 4. But let's get through Game 3 first.</p>
<h4>Time switch</h4>
<p>With both American League Division Series ending in sweeps on Sunday, the National League is alone on the national baseball stage for a few days. For the Dodgers and Cardinals, that means Monday's Game 3 will now start at 6:07 p.m. PT, 30 minutes earlier than originally planned.</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2014/10/5/6917061/dan-haren-clayton-kershaw-hyun-jin-ryu-dodgers-cardinals-nldsEric Stephen2014-10-02T16:14:58-07:002014-10-02T16:14:58-07:00Ryu to start NLDS Game 3
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<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/afozHS1GQ5tZM-wpH8oUNfcjAVc=/20x0:3980x2640/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/40755748/20141002_pjc_aj4_078.JPG.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Ryu last started on Sept. 12.</p> <p>LOS ANGELES -- <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Dodgers</a> pitcher <span>Hyun-jin Ryu</span> received good news on his left shoulder, and is scheduled to start Game 3 of the National League Division Series against the <a href="https://www.vivaelbirdos.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Cardinals</a> on Monday in St. Louis, manager Don Mattingly announced on Thursday.</p>
<p>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 <a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Giants</a> in San Francisco after just one inning.</p>
<p>"Everything went well yesterday," Ryu said. "I feel good right now."</p>
<p>Mattingly said there would be no restrictions on Ryu, will have 23 days rest by the time his Monday start rolls around.</p>
<p>"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."</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>"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."</p>
<p>Mattingly said <span>Dan Haren</span> would start Game 4, but I'm not sure how many people actually believed him. With multiple off days, the Dodgers could have <span>Clayton Kershaw</span> start Game 4 on three days rest, as he did in 2013, and still have <span>Zack Greinke</span> ready for Game 5 on normal four days rest.</p>
<p>But for Kershaw, who will start Game 1 on Friday afternoon, Thursday was not the time to talk about Game 4.</p>
<p>"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."</p>
<p><span class="message_content">★★★</span></p>
<p>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 <span>Kevin Correia</span> and <span>Chris Perez</span> 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.</p>
<p>NLDS rosters are due Friday morning.</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2014/10/2/6895443/hyun-jin-ryu-game-3-nlds-dodgers-cardinalsEric Stephen