Dodgers need Kershaw in Game 6

By Greg Beacham LOS ANGELES >> Clayton Kershaw gripped a baseball in his left hand and grimaced while he watched Game 5 of the NL Championship Series from the dugout. The Los Angeles Dodgers’ best pitcher was ready and eager, and he was sitting on three days of rest. Manager Dave Roberts could have deployed him Thursday night in Chavez Ravine and probably again in relief at Wrigley Field. Roberts declined to play his ace, instead holding his top card for the weekend. The Dodgers decided to rely on rookie Kenta Maeda and their busy bullpen against the NL’s best offense. Those pitchers hung in for the first three hours, but eventually proved to be no match for Jon Lester in the Chicago Cubs’ 8-4 victory. Los Angeles now trails the NLCS 3-2 after getting outscored 18-6 in two straight home games.

But the Dodgers didn’t sound discouraged as they packed up for their flight.

“We can grab that momentum by one name,” Dodgers first baseman Adrian Gonzalez said. “Kershaw.” Although Roberts has already proven unafraid to do unorthodox things with his pitchers in October, he stuck to a conventional plan to save Kershaw for Game 6.

And instead of pitching to clinch a pennant Saturday night, Kershaw must attempt to save the Dodgers’ season again.“We’ve got Clayton going in Game 6, so that’s a game we expect to win,” Roberts said.

Kershaw volunteered to pitch Game 5, but Roberts had several reasons to turn him down.

Roberts figured he would need to start Maeda at some point in the next three games, and he hoped the home crowd would benefit the inconsistent Japanese right-hander. With a day off Friday, Roberts also knew he could go deep into his bullpen — which has thrown a majors-high 43 innings in the postseason — with no repercussions.

“It’s not an elimination game,” Roberts said after Game 4. “And I think the accumulation of (Kershaw’s) usage over the last ten days plays a factor in our decision.”

Instead of pitching on three days’ rest in Game 5, Kershaw will be pitching on a luxurious five days’ rest in Game 6.