Maeda set for Game 5; Kershaw ready for 6

LOS ANGELES — If there was any lingering doubt about who would start Game 5 of the National League Championship Series for the Dodgers, it was wiped away Wednesday afternoon. First, manager Dave Roberts said there was no circumstance in which Clayton Kershaw would come back on short rest. Then Kershaw threw his regular between-starts bullpen session, something he would never do the day before a start.

So, Kershaw will wait for a potential Game 6. It’s Kenta Maeda in Game 5, giving the Japanese right-hander another opportunity to shake his recent funk. The Dodgers took a 2-1 series lead into Game 4 on Wednesday night, so Maeda will either be trying to pitch the Dodgers into their first World Series since 1988 or looking to give them back the NLCS lead before the series returns to Wrigley Field.

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   LAD 6, CHC 0 Gm 4 Oct. 19 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

• NLCS Game 4: Live on FS1

“It’s going to be an important game for the team, but it’s going to be an important game for myself, too,” Maeda said. “I haven’t been doing well, so I really want to — I …

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