L.A. needs rotation to follow ace’s example

LOS ANGELES — In the 2016 postseason, the Dodgers are 4-0 in games Clayton Kershaw appears in. They are 0-3 in games in which Kershaw does not pitch.

Let us resist the urge to advise the Dodgers to leap on this trend and pitch Kershaw every game in the National League Championship Series against the Cubs. We can proceed to a slightly more subtle point about Kershaw’s work and the Dodgers’ chances of reaching the World Series.

• NLCS Game 3: Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET/5 PT on FS1

Game Date Time Matchup TV/Highlights Gm 1 Oct. 15   CHC 8, LAD 4 Gm 2 Oct. 16   LAD 1, CHC 0 Gm 3 Oct. 18 8 p.m. CHC @ LAD FS1 Gm 4 Oct. 19 8 p.m. CHC @ LAD FS1 Gm 5 Oct. 20 8 p.m. CHC @ LAD FS1 *Gm 6 Oct. 22 TBD LAD @ CHC FS1 *Gm 7 Oct. 23 TBD LAD @ CHC FS1 * If necessary | All times listed ET  • NLCS coverageShop for postseason gear: Cubs | Dodgers

Pitching on short rest, pitching out of the bullpen and then pitching seven brilliant shutout innings in Game 2 against Chicago has reinforced the notion that Kershaw can be as great in October as he routinely is the rest of the time.

That makes this a different sort of series, different from the one in which Chicago initially appeared to be prohibitive favorites.

“I really think it’s a pretty evenly matched up series,” Cubs manager Joe Maddon said Monday. “That’s how I see it.

“You saw their team on the field. They definitely get after it. The whole group gets after it. The shortstop [Corey Seager] is among the best players in the game right now at a very young age. I’m very happy with our pitching staff, but I know they are also [happy with their pitching staff].”

The …

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