Clayton Kershaw has a date with MLB history as Dodgers try to clinch

Job 1 for Clayton Kershaw on Wednesday: pitch the Dodgers to the National League West championship. He wins, and they clinch, with the San Francisco Giants on hand to witness the party.

Win or lose, Kershaw can etch his name in baseball’s record book, another plank in his campaign for the Cy Young and Most Valuable Player awards. Barring disaster, Kershaw will become the first pitcher to lead the major leagues in earned-run average for four consecutive seasons.

Kershaw has a 1.83 ERA, with Chris Sale of the Chicago White Sox second at 2.20. On Wednesday, Kershaw and Sale each is scheduled to make his final start of the season.

Sale pitches a day game against the Detroit Tigers. If he throws a nine-inning shutout, his ERA would be 2.08.

If Kershaw gives up six earned runs against the Giants without getting an out, his ERA would be 2.08 -- and the decimal point would go to Kershaw, at 2.081, with Sale at 2.084.

Kershaw is 2-0 with a 1.88 ERA in three games against the Giants this season, 13-5 with a 1.44 ERA in 25 career games against the Giants.

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Early morning update

Dodgers Manager Don Mattingly couldn’t have scripted the conclusion to his team’s regular season any better: On Wednesday, needing a win to clinch his team’s second consecutive National League West title, he’ll send the best pitcher on the planet to the mound against a struggling opponent operating on one leg.

For those who haven’t been paying attention that would be left-hander Clayton Kershaw (20-3, 1.80) -- who has the most wins and lowest ERA in the majors -- going for the Dodgers against San Francisco Giants’ right-hander Tim Hudson (9-12, 3.52), who may be a game-time scratch because of a lingering hip problem.

First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Dodger Stadium.

Kershaw is all but a lock to win his second consecutive NL Cy Young Award, emblematic of the best pitcher in the league. And he is the odds-on favorite to win the league’s MVP award as well.

Still not convinced the Dodgers have this one in the bag? Well, consider the fact Kershaw hasn’t lost since May, has left a game before the eighth inning just once in his last eight starts and is 9-2 with a 1.75 ERA at home. Plus he’s already beaten the Giants twice this season, tossing a three-hit shutout against them in July. For his career, he’s 13-5 with a 1.77 ERA and four shutouts against San Francisco.

“We have the best pitcher in the world going,” outfielder Matt Kemp said.

Hudson, on the other hand, has lost his last three decisions, has one win in his last 11 starts and will finish a season with a losing record for the first time in his 17 years as a professional. In his two starts against the Dodgers this season, he gave up eight runs -- and 16 hits! -- in seven innings.

Those aren’t good stats for a team that needs one win -- or a Milwaukee Brewers loss -- to clinch a wild-card berth in the postseason.

There’s a chance Hudson won’t make the start, though. Giants pitching coach Dave Righetti said Hudson’s sinker isn’t sinking and he’s not finishing his pitches the way he normally does, flaws that probably stem from his sore hip. If the Giants decide to scratch Hudson, right-hander Tim Lincecum could replace him.

But that wouldn’t necessarily be a significant upgrade for San Francisco. Lincecum is 0-1 in three games against the Dodgers this season, having allowed 12 runs and 21 hits in 21 1/3 innings.

And here’s one other twist to Mattingly’s Hollywood-perfect script: The Dodgers are off Thursday, meaning they can sleep off any hangovers should they have to endure a champagne celebration Wednesday.