By calling on Kenta Maeda to make a spot start Tuesday, Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts was providing the rotation with an extra day of rest for a second time this month. However, an exception is being made for Clayton Kershaw.
He will now start on regular rest Thursday, rather than take the mound in the series opener against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. The change pushes Alex Wood back to the Friday start.
Kershaw will face the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in the finale of the four-game Freeway Series. Looking further down the calendar, it also allows for Kershaw to make two more starts prior to the All-Star break — in theory.
A second outing would fall on Sunday, July 9. However, should Kershaw make that start, it would prevent him from pitching in the All-Star Game.
Kershaw is a lifetime 2-2 with a 4.05 ERA in four starts at Angel Stadium, having last pitched there in September 2015.
The more likely scenario has the three-time Cy Young Award making the start this week against the Angels, then July 4 against the Arizona Diamondbacks before calling it a wrap for the first half of the 2017 season.
As for Wood, he’ll face the Padres for a second time this season, though it will be his first start. The 26-year-old threw two scoreless innings against the Padres on April 5. Overall this season, Wood is 8-0 with a 1.86 ERA, 2.12 FIP and 0.91 WHIP in 13 games (11 starts).
