Clayton Kershaw won’t be part of Dodgers bullpen game Sunday
If the Dodges have a bullpen game Sunday in their series finale against the Chicago Cubs, Clayton Kershaw won’t be part of it, Manager Don Mattingly said.
The Dodgers are expected to use a series of relievers to get through that game, provided they don’t completely exhaust their bullpen Saturday.
Asked if Kershaw could pitch an inning Sunday instead of throwing a bullpen session, Mattingly shook his head no.
“You guys trying to get rid of me?” Mattingly said.
Mattingly laughed and noted that he was close to his off-season residence in Evansville, Ind.
Imagining what Dodgers upper management would tell him if he used Kershaw under such circumstances, Mattingly said, “We’ll drop you off at the American terminal and send your stuff to you later.”
Kershaw pitched Friday and won his 20th game.
If the Dodgers don’t have enough rested relievers for a bullpen game, Dan Haren would start Sunday.
The rotation is a man short because of a shoulder injury to Hyun-Jin Ryu.
Ryu played catch Saturday and is expected to do so again Sunday.
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