Dodgers' Ryu will start Game 1 of NLDS, Kershaw gets Game 2
The Los Angeles Dodgers will wait before giving Clayton Kershaw the ball in the playoffs.
In a bit of a surprise, the Dodgers announced that left-hander Hyun-Jin Ryu will start in Thursday's NLDS opener against the Atlanta Braves. Kershaw, meanwhile, will take the mound in Game 2.
This will be the first time since 2009 that Kershaw won't have started the playoff opener for Los Angeles. By starting the second game of the series, though, he'll be available to start a potential Game 5 on full rest.
Ryu missed a large portion of this season due to injury, but since returning from the disabled list on Aug. 15, he's been one of the Dodgers' best pitchers. The 31-year-old put up a 0.47 ERA over his final three starts in September, holding opponents to a meager .182 average while striking out 16 over that span.
Thursday will mark Ryu's first postseason start since 2014.
Kershaw posted a 2.73 ERA and 1.04 WHIP over 161 1/3 innings this season but struggled down the stretch. Over his final three starts of the year, Kershaw allowed 10 runs (nine of them earned); this included getting knocked around by the lowly San Francisco Giants for five earned runs and eight hits over just five innings on Saturday.
Atlanta will send Mike Foltynewicz to the mound opposite Ryu in Game 1 of the NLDS.