Dodgers are uncertain about Clayton Kershaw pitching on three days’ rest

The Dodgers remain undecided whether Clayton Kershaw will pitch on three days’ rest in Game 4 of their National League division series against the St. Louis Cardinals, Manager Don Mattingly said.

Kershaw was torched for eight runs in 6 2/3 innings in the Dodgers’ Game 1 defeat Friday.

“We haven’t even talked about it,” Mattingly said. “That was a rough one yesterday for Clayton.”

Hyun-Jin Ryu is scheduled to start Game 3 on Monday at Busch Stadium.

Dan Haren will be available to pitch in long relief, in case Ryu’s start is cut short. Ryu has been sidelined for more than three weeks because of an irritated shoulder.

If Haren doesn’t pitch Monday, he could be available to start Game 4 the next day.

Mattingly said he spoke to Kershaw on Saturday.

“Said hello to him, asked him how he was doing,” Mattingly said. “He told me he wasn’t doing very good, which I expected.”

Mattingly said his confidence in Kershaw remains unaffected.

“No doubts about Clayton and the way he’ll pitch,” Mattingly said.

Six of the eight runs Kershaw gave up in Game 1 were scored in the seventh inning.

“He was good yesterday, other than that inning,” Mattingly said.

Kershaw limited the Cardinals to two hits in the first six innings, both home runs.

Whereas the Dodgers are considering starting their ace on short rest, the Cardinals sound as if they aren’t.

Like Kershaw, Cardinals starter Adam Wainwright was roughed up in Game 1, giving up six runs and 11 hits in 4 1/3 innings.

Asked whether Wainwright could pitch in Game 4, Manager Mike Matheny said, “I wouldn’t rule it out. At this point, I would say it’s not highly likely.”

Signgate

The Cardinals insisted they didn’t know beforehand what pitches Kershaw would throw in the seventh inning of Game 1.

Faced with questions of whether Kershaw tipped his pitches or the Cardinals stole the Dodgers’ signs, Matheny said, “That would be an insult.”

Said Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina: “I don’t know about it. We put some good at-bats. He left the ball up the middle.”

Mattingly agreed that the location of Kershaw’s pitches led to the Cardinals’ big inning.

“I did go back and look at the pitches and, really, just too many balls in the middle of the plate,” Mattingly said.

Mattingly dismissed the idea that the Cardinals were stealing signs. He pointed to how hitting coach Mark McGwire was recently with the Cardinals and said, “They didn’t do it when he was there.”

Of stealing signs, Mattingly said, “It’s not that easy. To me, it’s silly. We know everybody tried to do it. We’re switching signs, you do all this stuff. It’s just not that easy.

“I’ll tell you, I played a decent amount of time and I coached for a while. I’ve had one guy that’s ever relayed signs from second base, the actual sign, the actual pitch.”

Mattingly wouldn’t identify the player, saying the player is still active.

“You would enjoy it,” Mattingly said. “But I can’t say.”

Short hops

Molina didn’t face any disciplinary action for pushing plate umpire Jerry Meals during a bench-clearing incident in Game 1. … Maury Wills threw out the ceremonial first pitch in Game 2. The pitch was caught by Dee Gordon, whom Wills has mentored. … The Dodgers have elected to travel to St. Louis on Sunday morning instead of Saturday night.

Staff writer Kevin Baxter contributed to this report.