Clayton Kershaw will start Game 4 of NLDS on short rest

Clayton Kershaw will start Tuesday for the Dodgers in Game 4 of their National League division series against the New York Mets.

Kershaw, who was charged with three runs over 6 2/3 innings in a Game 1 defeat, will be pitching on three days’ rest instead of the usual four.

Asked about the team’s decision to start Kershaw over left-hander Alex Wood, Manager Don Mattingly replied, “Do I have to explain that one?”

The decision was made before the Dodgers knew the outcome of Game 3.

Rookie left-hander Steven Matz will start Game 4 for the Mets.

If the series is extended to five games, Zack Greinke would pitch for the Dodgers and Jacob deGrom for the Mets.

Kershaw pitched on short rest in each of the previous two postseasons and had no concerns about doing so again.

“The adrenaline takes over,” he said. “You don’t really feel tired or anything like that.”

Kershaw’s final game last year was made on three days’ rest: a loss to the St. Louis Cardinals in Game 4 of an NLDS. Kershaw pitched six scoreless innings, only to give up a game-deciding three-run home run to Matt Adams in the seventh.

“Last year, I did OK until the last inning,” Kershaw said. “So, you know, try not to do that again.”

Before the Dodgers announced Kershaw would pitch Tuesday, Mets Manager Terry Collins was asked if he would prefer to face Wood or Kershaw on short rest.

“Would have I have a preference?” Collins said sarcastically. “Yeah, I got a preference.”

Collins’ over-the-top response elicited laughter from his audience.

“Believe me, this is no slap at Alex Wood,” Collins said. “He’s a fine pitcher, but I don’t want to face that other monster on the mound.”

Rollins steps in

With 21-year-old rookie Corey Seager looking less than comfortable in the first two games of the NLDS, the Dodgers turned to Jimmy Rollins to start at shortstop Monday in Game 3.

Seager was a combined one for eight in Games 1 and 2.

Playing for the Philadelphia Phillies, Rollins was a division rival of the Mets for the previous 15 seasons.

Rollins entered the game a career .322 hitter at Citi Field. His success there continued this season, as he homered in each of the first three games of a four-game series here in late July.

Tejada welcomed back

Ruben Tejada, whose leg was broken in Chase Utley‘s slide in Game 2, received a deafening ovation from the crowd at Citi Field as he limped onto the field during pregame introductions.

The Mets announced earlier in the day that Tejada’s injury wouldn’t require surgery.

Wilmer Flores replaced Tejada as the Mets shortstop.

Flores became a cult hero in New York in late July. Hearing he was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers, Flores started to cry on the field during a game. (Reports of the trade turned out to be premature and Flores remained with the Mets.)

Taking Tejada’s place on the Mets’ 25-man NLDS roster was infielder Matt Reynolds, who had no previous major league experience. If Reynolds plays in this series, he would be the second player in modern history to make his major league debut in the postseason, joining Mark Kiger, who did so with the Oakland Athletics in 2006.

dylan.hernandez@latimes.com

Twitter: @dylanohernandez