Kershaw: 'I can go 27 innings' in Game 7

Clayton Kershaw is ready to do whatever it takes to get his first World Series ring.

Following his club's 3-1 victory Tuesday in their must-win Game 6 against the Houston Astros, the Los Angeles Dodgers ace announced that he's prepared to essentially pitch until his arm falls off in Game 7 on Wednesday night.

"I can go 27 innings," Kershaw said, according to Andy McCullough of the Los Angeles Times. "Whatever they need."

Hyperbole notwithstanding, if things go awry early in Game 7, the Dodgers will likely lean heavily on Kershaw, who was adamant he could pitch Tuesday, according to manager Dave Roberts, but didn't end up getting into the game (despite heading down to the bullpen at one point to get loose). Yu Darvish, the four-time All-Star, is scheduled to start, and his leash will be short. His last time out, in Game 3, he recorded just five outs, coughing up four runs on six hits and one walk over 1 2/3 innings - the shortest start of his MLB career.

Dogged for years by his reputation as a shaky postseason performer, Kershaw has worked hard to dispel that perception this October, though his efforts were derailed a bit Sunday at Minute Maid Park. After fashioning a 2.96 ERA through his first four starts this postseason, Kershaw stumbled in Game 5, allowing six runs - his most in a playoff start since 2014 - while walking three and managing just two strikeouts over 4 2/3 innings in an eventual extra-inning loss.