Dodgers @ Cubs Sept. 19, 2014: Clayton Kershaw, and all of the day games

Today begins three consecutive days of morning baseball for the Dodgers in Chicago. At least you’ll have the rest of the day for activities. Oh, and it’s a Clayton Kershaw day. That’s fun.

Dodgers
Cubs
11:20 a.m.
Chicago
2B
Gordon
CF
Alcantara
CF
Puig
2B
Baez
1B
Gonzalez
1B
Rizzo
RF
Kemp
RF
Soler
SS
Ramirez
C
Castro
LF
Crawford
3B
Olt
3B
Uribe
SS
Valaika
C
Ellis
LF
Lake
P
Kershaw (L)
P
Jackson (R)

J.P. Hoornstra tweeted this out earlier. I thought it was kinda cool.

Yes, Kershaw is attempting to become baseball’s first 20-game winner. While the pitcher win is about the most meaningless statistic out there, it’s still a pretty impressive feat (if he does it), seeing as he missed the first month of the season with the back/shoulder injury. This is also something to keep an eye on: Kershaw’s ERA is 1.70. His batting average is .169. Will his batting average end up being higher than his ERA? He missed by one point last year (1.83 vs. .182), and he’s in the same spot this season, but with an even better ERA. It’s almost like he’s the most valuable player in the league, or something.

Some news on Hyun-Jin Ryu from Ken Gurnick.

First of all, gross. Second, if he hasn’t yet picked up a baseball since his injury, I’m skeptical of Gurnick’s next tweet.

We’ll see what happens. If Ryu is as close to 100 percent as he’s going to get by the time his turn comes up in the National League Division Series, great. If not, there isn’t a reason to rush him — even if that means Dan Haren starts Game 3 of then NLDS.

Speaking of starters, Sunday and Monday’s starting pitchers are yet to be determined. Don Mattingly told reporters it depends what happens tomorrow with Roberto Hernandez and his general “bad-at-pitchingness” on the hill. Haren is set up to start Monday against San Francisco, which would be much better than a bullpen game lead by the likes of Kevin Correia and Carlos Frias (I still believe in you as a reliever, Chuck!).

If you’re at home watching this game today, know that I — and everyone else who is not — hate you.

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About Dustin Nosler

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Dustin Nosler began writing about the Dodgers in July 2009 at his blog, Feelin' Kinda Blue. He co-hosted a weekly podcast with Jared Massey called Dugout Blues. He was a contributor/editor at The Hardball Times and True Blue LA. He graduated from California State University, Sacramento, with his bachelor’s degree in journalism and a minor in digital media. While at CSUS, he worked for the student-run newspaper The State Hornet for three years, culminating with a 1-year term as editor-in-chief. He resides in Stockton, Calif.