Roberts swears Maeda will start

LOS ANGELES — Dodgers manager Dave Roberts insisted Wednesday, before his team played the Cubs in Game 4 of the National League Championship Series, that Clayton Kershaw will not pitch in Game 5 on Thursday.

Of course, Roberts said there was no way Kershaw would pitch in relief against the Nationals in Game 5 of the NLDS. And everyone knows he kind of lied.

Kershaw entered in the ninth inning, two days after making a start on short rest and pitching for the third time in a six- day span, and got the last two outs for his first save.

Roberts knew Wednesday y afternoon his team would be going for the series- clinching victory the following day or be tied at 2- 2 playing a pivotal Game 5. Had the Dodgers been faced with elimination in Game 5, Kershaw would have likely started on three days’ rest for the second time in his last three starts.

Kershaw, who pitched seven scoreless innings of two- hit ball against the Cubs in Game 2 on Sunday at Wrigley, still looms as a late- relief option in a potential Game 7, although doing so after a start in Game 6 is a big ask.

Roberts was asked if there were any circumstances in which he would consider Kershaw on Thursday.

“No, no,’’ Roberts said. “Kenta.”

So Kershaw is penciled in for Game 6 and right- hander Kenta Maeda, , who hasn’t been very effective in three postseason starts, including a Game 1 outing against the Cubs in which he gave up three runs on four hits and three walks over four innings, would start regardless of Wednesday’s result, Roberts said.

“I expect Kenta to get ahead of hitters, pitch off the fastball, [ mix up his breaking pitches] and just compete,’’ Roberts said. “I have all the confidence in the world he’s going to give us a chance to win a baseball game [ Thursday].’’

You’ll have to take his word for it, although Kershaw’s throwing a bullpen Wednesday afternoon strongly suggested he won’t pitch Thursday.