Kershaw To Get Extra Rest

Aaron Gleeman's NBC Sports says Clayton Kershaw will get an extra pass in the starting rotation, rather than facing off against Arizona in this four-game series:

Clayton Kershaw is healthy, but with the division title all but clinched for the Dodgers and his workload already at an MLB-high 223 innings they’ve decided to give him some extra time between starts.

Kershaw had been scheduled to pitch Wednesday against the Diamondbacks, but instead he’ll be pushed back until Saturday against the Padres.

Ken Gurnick of MLB.com reports that Stephen Fife will fill in for Kershaw, who’s been merely really good rather than incredible this month. He logged seven innings of three-run ball last time out against the Giants on Friday, throwing 106 pitches, and leads baseball with a 1.94 ERA overall.

Continued Gurnick, on MLB.com:

The club believes Kershaw, who already has thrown a Major League-high 223 innings, needs the extra rest as a precautionary measure, especially with the chance of pitching deep into October. He has allowed two earned runs in each of his last two starts, his most recent coming Friday night against the Giants.

Kershaw is healthy and threw a bullpen session Monday, instead of his normal throw day Sunday, and figures to throw another Wednesday. Ricky Nolasco will pitch as scheduled Thursday against Arizona.

This makes Zack Greinke's start tonight all the more important.