Dodgers ace left-hander Clayton Kershaw will start Game 4 of the NLDS at Citi Field tomorrow night, the team announced this afternoon.
Kershaw will be pitching on just three days rest, coming off his Game 1 loss in which he allowed three runs on four hits and four walks while striking out 11. He was pushed by manager Don Mattingly pretty deep into the game (although not as deep as Jacob deGrom), tallying 113 pitches, 75 of which were strikes.
Kershaw has never pitched on short rest in the regular season, but has done so a handful of times in the playoffs. In 2013, he gave up two runs in six innings on 91 pitches against the Braves on short rest. In last year’s Game 4 of the NLDS, Kershaw pitched on short rest with his team facing elimination. He was able to throw over 100 pitches, but allowed a three-run home run in the seventh inning to Matt Adams that sealed the Dodgers’ playoff fate, earning the loss.
The Mets, on the other hand, have still not announced who will start Game 4, perhaps waiting on the results of tonight’s game to decide between Steven Matz and Jacob deGrom.
