Cubs to miss out on facing Kershaw again
LOS ANGELES— If the Cubs face the Dodgers in the playoffs, they also face the likelihood of getting their first look in more than a year at three- time Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw.
Kershaw, who’s on the disabled list with a lower back injury, threw a bullpen session Friday and expects to return next month for the NLWest leaders. The Cubs missed Kershaw’s turn in the rotation during their four- game series three months ago atWrigley Field.
Manager JoeMaddon said he wished the Cubs could have faced Kershaw this weekend, but not for the potential scouting advantage.
“I’ve always wanted us to play the other team’s best team. Always,” Maddon said. “At the end of the day, you always like your best group against their best group, and let’s go. That’s always optimal.”
Instead, the Cubs— who beat the Dodgers three out of four games— expect to face a pair of rookies the final two days of the series.
Left- hander Julio Urias, 19, ( 42, 3.95) will start on Saturday. The Cubs beat him 7- 2 in his second big- league game on June 2.
The Dodgers recalled righthander Brock Stewart ( 0- 2, 11.25) from the minors, and he’s expected to start Sunday unless he’s needed out of the bullpen before that.
The beat- up Dodgers have used 14 different starting pitchers because of injuries. The Cubs, by contrast, have had only one member of their opening starting rotation go on the DL the last two seasons.
Stairway to the clouds
Maddon and retiring catcher David Ross spent time before the game in the broadcast booth with retiring legend Vin Scully, and presented Scully with the No. 67 from theWrigley Field scoreboard as well as the Dodgers banner that flew overWrigley.
Scully has been the Dodgers broadcaster for 67 years.
“He’s just a different human being, and I really feel fortunate I’ve been able to exchange a handshake and have a photograph,” saidMaddon, who first met Scully before a game at Dodger Stadium last year for a pregame interview.
“You’re ascending into the clouds when you see Mr. Scully,” Maddon said.
Injury update
Starter John Lackey ( shoulder) and setup ace Hector Rondon ( triceps) both played catch again before the game and fared well, pitching coach Chris Bosio said.
They’ll be evaluated again Saturday.
“Probably right after the first they should be ready to come [ off the DL],” Maddon said.
Setup man Pedro Strop, who suffered a meniscus tear in his left knee on Aug. 10, continues to rehab, and the team anticipates a return closer to the front end than back end of the original four-tosixweek timeline.
“It’s like you’ve got to say, ‘ Hey, hold on here, buddy,’ ’’ Maddon said. “He’s making great progress.”