LOS ANGELES DODGERS CLIPSSUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2013

OC REGISTER

Dodgers draw a blank in 1-0 loss

By Pedro Moura

LOS ANGELES – Zack Greinke wasn’t at his best Saturday night, but he wasn’t all that far away from it.The Dodgers’ offensive work was nowhere near first-rate, though, as they mustered only three hits for Greinke’s postseason tuneup in a 1-0 loss to the Colorado Rockies at Dodger Stadium.

“It could be worse, that’s for sure,” said Greinke, ever the pragmatist.

Greinke threw 90 pitches in an abbreviated six-inning outing, allowing four hits and one run, on a Nolan Arenado RBI double, while striking out seven. By the time he starts Friday’s Game 2 of the NLDS, it will have been more than a month since he pitched into the seventh inning of a game.

Saturday was the ninth time this season the Dodgers had been held scoreless, compared to 22 times shutting opponents out.

Rockies right-hander Juan Nicasio shut out the Dodgers over seven innings in July, and he repeated his effort Saturday, but only over 51/3 frames. Manager Walt Weiss used five relievers to procure the 11 remaining outs, and they delivered, permitting no hits.

The Dodgers (92-69) had three hits in all, one apiece in the second, fourth and sixth innings. Michael Young and Juan Uribe each doubled, and Hanley Ramirez singled. In the team’s best scoring chance, Uribe popped out with the bases loaded and one out in the sixth, and Scott Van Slyke flied out.Uribe also walked leading off the ninth but was stranded.

Greinke (15-4) will finish the season with a 2.63 ERA in 1772/3 innings. He could get some down-ballot Cy Young Award votes, but he threw his support firmly behind teammate Clayton Kershaw to win it outright.

“It should be an easy one,” Greinke said of Kershaw’s candidacy.

Center fielder Matt Kemp, scratched five minutes before Saturday’s game because of left ankle soreness, said he felt it flare up when he woke up, likely as a result of playing in six straight games for the first time in months.

He said he hoped he could play in today’s regular-season finale, but qualified it.

“We’ll see how I feel in the morning,” he said on his way out of the stadium.

Capuano contending for Dodgers' playoff 'pen

By Pedro Moura

LOS ANGELES – Chris Capuano appeared out of luck for most of September, an ill-timed groin strain knocking him out of action just as the competition heated up for the final bullpen spots on the Dodgers’ playoff roster.

But the 35-year-old left-hander appeared in Friday’s win over the Colorado Rockies, striking out two of three hitters, and is expected to pitch another inning in Sunday’s season finale.

“He was pretty good,” Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said Saturday. “We’re hoping to be able to use him tomorrow.”

Mattingly was more tight-lipped than normal, perhaps because Capuano is suddenly a viable and attractive option to fill out the first-round bullpen as a third left-handed pitcher and long reliever.“Another lefty is something we value,” Mattingly said.

Capuano has pitched in 28 games out of the bullpen during his nine-year career. Any playoff role for him would be strictly as a reliever, and he said he understood that throughout his three-week recovery.

“Whatever happens with the postseason rosters, I just wanted to be available and strong in case they need me in any way,” Capuano said. “My goal was to give them that option. We’ve got a lot of power arms and a lot of talent vying for a few spots. It’ll be interesting to see what happens. At least I accomplished my goal.”

Capuano averaged almost 93 miles an hour on his fastball in his appearance Friday, his fastest average in any game in his career.

He attributed that to the ease of a shorter stint out of the bullpen.

KEMP SCRATCHED, PUIG FINEMinutes before Saturday’s first pitch, center fielder Matt Kemp was scratched because of left ankle soreness, in a move the team called “precautionary.”

Kemp missed 52 games over the last two months while on the disabled list because of a sprained left ankle. He had started the team’s previous six games – and nine of the past 10 – while attempting to accumulate at-bats in advance of the playoffs.

Another Dodgers outfielder also sat out Saturday, but has a clearer prognosis. Rookie Yasiel Puig left Friday’s game after fouling two balls off his left shin. He pinch hit Saturday but is expected to start Sunday.

“He’s fine today,” Mattingly said of Puig. “It’s really just me being precautionary with him.”

SHORT RESTMattingly continues to refuse to get into any sort of detail about his playoff roster plans, although he did reveal he and GM Ned Colletti began to discuss it in earnest Saturday morning.

One popular question is whether the Dodgers will consider starting ace Clayton Kershaw on short rest in a possible Game 4 of the NLDS on Oct. 7, or use a fourth starter, presumably Ricky Nolasco.

Mattingly repeatedly said he and Colletti had not discussed that decision, then offered a small clarification.

“Everything’s on the table when you get to the playoffs,” he said. “You’re gonna try to do what’s best to win.”

Pitching Kershaw on three days rest in Game 4 would also allow the Dodgers to start Zack Greinke a second time in a potential Game 5, on regular rest because of the second off day.

NOTESThe Dodgers spent roughly 45 minutes working on pickoff plays before Saturday’s game. Mattingly said he wanted to get the training out of the way before the playoffs for infielder Michael Young and the pitchers who weren’t with the team in spring training, when similar workouts are common. …

Infielder Nick Punto (ingrown toenail) is unlikely to play in the finale but is expected to be available for the playoffs. …

With St. Louis winning and Atlanta losing Saturday, the Dodgers will play the Braves in the NLDS unless the Cardinals lose and Braves win Sunday.

LA TIMES

Dodgers fall to Rockies 1-0, and try to get bodies healthy for playoffs

By Kevin Baxter

The Dodgers assured themselves of a playoff berth 10 days ago. They know they're going to open on the road, on Thursday, and they've even narrowed their possible opponent down to two teams — St. Louis or Atlanta.

Now all they have to do is make sure they have enough healthy players to make the trip.

That's the same ankle that was sore enough to keep Kemp on the sidelines for two months, one of three trips he made to the disabled list this season. Only now Andre Ethier, the man who replaced Kemp in center field, has batted only once since Sept. 13 because of a left ankle sprain.

Then there's shortstop Hanley Ramirez, whose sore back has prevented him from starting consecutive games for more than two weeks. And when Yasiel Puig was limited to a pinch-hit appearance Saturday after fouling a ball off his left foot Friday, the Dodgers were left with a starting outfield made up of two rookies and a second baseman

Even ever-ready utility infielder Nick Punto was unavailable because of an ingrown toenail.

With the possible exception of Ethier, who is working out in Arizona, the Dodgers' walking wounded are expected to suit up and play when the postseason begins this week.

On Saturday, their stand-ins struggled against right-hander Juan Nicasio, who came in with a 5.32 earned-run average then held the Dodgers to three hits for 51/3 innings. The Dodgers loaded the bases

with one out in the sixth inning but failed to score when Juan Uribe and Scott Van Slyke popped out. Van Slyke struck out with Uribe at second base to end the fourth.

Zack Greinke was almost as good as Nicasio, giving up one run and four hits in six innings, striking out seven and lowering his ERA to 2.63. It was the 12th straight start in which Greinke gave up two runs or less but it wasn't good enough to get him his 16th win, which would have equaled a career high.

Tip of the CapLeft-hander Chris Capuano pitched a scoreless inning Friday, striking out two, in his first appearance since a groin strain forced him out of a start in Cincinnati three weeks ago.

Manager Don Mattingly said Capuano is expected to work an inning in the regular-season finale Sunday in what could be a tryout for a spot on the playoff roster.

"If we weren't thinking about him we wouldn't have tried to push him to get him back," Mattingly said. "Another lefty is a value. It allows you to match up more."

Capuano has pitched in relief three times this season and his presence in the bullpen would give Mattingly an additional left-handed option to J.P. Howell and the struggling Paco Rodriguez, who pitched a perfect inning Saturday after giving up four runs and walking six in his previous 51/3 innings.

For Dodgers fan Dan Clements, a World Series title is in the cards

By Bill Shaikin

Dan Clements reached into his bag for a roll of a blue duct tape. Dodger blue.

Then he pulled out a pack of baseball cards, so shiny that the glare blinded you for a moment. He flipped through the cards, one Dodgers star after another. He had room for only one card, so it needed to be just right.

Mike Piazza? Never won a postseason game with the Dodgers.

Eric Karros? Same thing.

Jackie Robinson? On the one hand, who can go wrong with Jackie Robinson? On the other hand, he never knew of something called a "postseason." In his day, the Dodgers would win the National League and advance directly to the World Series. So Robinson went back into the pack.Fernando Valenzuela? This would be the card.

"Pitching," Clements said, "is what wins in the World Series."

Clements tore off two pieces of duct tape, one for the top of the Valenzuela card, the other for the bottom. He affixed the card to a vase, then tenderly and lovingly lifted the vase into the air, and toward his father.

His father's final resting place is here, at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Hollywood Hills. For the playoffs, the Ralph Clements memorial plaque will be graced with the Fernando Valenzuela baseball card.

As the Dodgers head into the playoffs, a city heads there with them.

These are our hopes, born from a distinguished legacy that has given way to a quarter-century of frustration. These are our dreams, from the fans who listened to Vin Scully on a transistor radio to the ones who send out his quips on Twitter.

"The players," Scully said, "they don't relate to the past."

It's not their fault. Yasiel Puig was not alive when Kirk Gibson homered. Clayton Kershaw was 6 months old.

No one on the Dodgers' roster was alive when Wally Moon hit moon shots at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, when Sandy Koufax completed his perfect game at 9:46 p.m. in the City of the Angels, when the long-running quartet of Steve Garvey, Davey Lopes, Bill Russell and Ron Cey made its debut.These are the blue bonds that bind generations, from the mother who lighted a match at the Roy Campanella tribute game at the Coliseum, to the kid who sat in the top deck with a scorebook in his lap, pretending to announce the game and wishing he could grow up to be Scully. I was that kid, and that was my mom.

The headlines go to the investments the teams make, millions upon millions in player salaries. None of that would be possible without the investments the fans make — not only in dollars, but in faith and loyalty.

There is only one way for a team to truly repay its fans. That is with a parade, and the Dodgers are 11 victories from staging one.

Dare to dream.

"Oh, it's marvelous," Scully said. "It's the best feeling in the world if you love baseball.

"I was a fan once. I grew up in New York, as a rabid fan, so I think I can relate to the emotional part of it. They're patient, but they argue among themselves. They get into fierce debates sometimes. To finally win — to finally reach that goal — it's a most satisfying feature."

There are 3 million fan stories in this big city. Dan Clements shared one.

He is 58. He lives in Sherman Oaks. He grew up at Dodger Stadium with his father, and with Koufax and Don Drysdale.

Ralph Clements did not have a lot of money in those days. As the decades passed, he did well in finance, and in real estate. He bought season tickets at Dodger Stadium — Aisle 121, Row C, Seats 1-3. Dan had three boys; Ralph took his grandsons to the games.

On Memorial Day, Dan Clements went to visit his father at Forest Lawn. His father had been gone for five years. Ralph's favorite player was Orel Hershiser, so Dan brought along a Hershiser card.

"Flowers for graves was foreign to him," said Dan's wife, Mary Ann. "Baseball was his way of connecting with his dad."

Dan taped the Hershiser card to a vase and hoisted it high. The season was not even 2 months old and the Dodgers were seven games out of first place, with the most expensive collection of players in baseball history. It wouldn't hurt to ask his father if he could help.

"He lived and died with the Dodgers," Dan said. "We said a little prayer."

Two hours later, Mary Ann got a text message, with an offer of tickets for the Dodgers game the following night.

The Dodgers won that night. Dan and Mary Ann got Magic Johnson T-shirts, the ones they wore to Forest Lawn when they went back to put up the Valenzuela card last week.

There is some kind of magic in the air. Dare to dream.

Hanley Ramirez puts bad rep behind him to do good things for Dodgers

By Kevin Baxter

The Dodgers had heard the stories. Everyone in baseball had.

Stories that said Hanley Ramirez was a diva. Or a malcontent. How he could play brilliantly one day then just go through the motions the next.

The Dodgers thought they knew one other thing: that Ramirez could flat-out hit. So 14 months ago they rolled the dice, sending two top pitching prospects to the Miami Marlins to acquire Ramirez, who had $38 million left on his contract.

Their faith will be rewarded Thursday when the Dodgers begin postseason play for the first time in four seasons. He has done more than play well. In the clubhouse, where Ramirez was once thought to be a cancer, he's now being hailed as a team leader.

"Without him we probably wouldn't be in this position," says outfielder Carl Crawford.

Manager Don Mattingly says Ramirez is one of the smartest players on the team and adds, "This guy is a special player. He can do some things that not a lot of guys can do."

The numbers bear that out. Despite having been limited by injury to a career-low 85 games entering Saturday's start against Colorado, Ramirez was hitting a career-high .346 with 20 homers in 301 at-bats. If he maintains that average, he'll become the first shortstop since Nomar Garciaparra in 2000 to hit better than .345 with at least 20 home runs in the same season.

His OPS (on-base plus slugging percentage) of 1.042 was the third-highest in history by a shortstop with at least 300 plate appearances. When Ramirez is in the lineup the Dodgers were 51-25 before Saturday. They were 41-43 without him.

Another telling number: zero.

"We've had zero problems," Mattingly says. "There's been zero issues of Hanley not wanting to play or anything."

That wasn't always the case in Miami, where Ramirez, for all his talent, was moody and frequently accused of loafing, leading to feuds with managers and teammates. It was an uncomfortable time despite his winning a rookie-of-the-year award and a batting title in his seven years with the Marlins.

"I don't want to talk about the past," says Ramirez, who grows angry and agitated whenever a conversation turns toward his days in Miami.

Circumstances with the Marlins had become toxic, his friends say — a no-win situation. Ramirez was criticized for not being a team player, but then, when he tried to fight through a painful shoulder that eventually required surgery, he was criticized for his lack of production.

He was expected to be a team leader and the face of the franchise one day, then was asked to move from shortstop to third base to accommodate Jose Reyes the next.

With the Dodgers, Ramirez has found a comfort zone, and taken his game to a new level.

"Everything right now is going good because everything's natural," says Joey Cora, the Marlins' bench coach last season. "Playing shortstop. He's hitting fourth. He's only playing baseball, he doesn't have to worry about anything else. You put that all together with the ability that that guy has — he's a top-five player in my book when he's fully healthy.

"You talk about a guy that can do it all? Not only he can do it all, he can do it all well."

Escaping Miami didn't just make Ramirez a better player, though; it also made him better in other ways, according to Dodgers pitcher Ricky Nolasco, a teammate for seven years in Miami.

"Sometimes people need a change of scenery," says Nolasco, who broke in with the Marlins in 2006, the same year Ramirez did, and was traded to the Dodgers on July 6 this year. "And for Hanley it worked wonders, and he's a completely different person. He's just a better person. He's overall happier."

Up next for Ramirez is something he's never experienced. For all his individual achievements, the three-time All-Star and 2009 NL batting champion has never played in the postseason. That, he says, makes this season the best of his career despite two extended stays on the disabled list.

"Definitely," he says with a laugh. "You're here for one thing: just get a ring. Win the championship. And everything starts right there in the playoffs."

Well, not really. For Ramirez and the Dodgers, everything started the day General Manager Ned Colletti decided to believe his eyes and not his ears and bring Ramirez to Los Angeles.

"If you listen to what everybody else always says about everybody else, you'll make a lot of mistakes," Colletti says. "I evaluate relationships on how people act and how they perform and all that stuff. What I see and what I know.

"We had Manny [Ramirez] here and everybody said Manny was going to be trouble. Manny was fine. We had Vicente Padilla here. And people said he was going to be difficult. He was fine. Everybody deserves the opportunity to start fresh if they have to.

"He's done nothing but fulfill everything we've asked. He's been a great Dodger."

Dodgers' Clayton Kershaw deserves all votes for NL Cy Young award

By Bill Shaikin

Blue legacySandy Koufax won three Cy Young awards, all unanimously. When Orel Hershiser won in 1988, the vote was unanimous.

When Clayton Kershaw wins the National League Cy Young award this year, the vote ought to be unanimous too.

He led the major leagues in earned-run average for the third consecutive season, this time with a 1.83 mark that was the lowest since 2000, when Pedro Martinez put up a 1.74 — and won unanimously.Kershaw led the NL with 232 strikeouts. He finished second in innings, with a career-high 236. He started 33 games and gave up zero or one earned run 19 times. He won 16 games, but only two NL pitchers won more.

"If he's not the best, you're going to have to sell me on who's better," said Dodgers Manager Don Mattingly.

Baseball's next big arm comes and goes, but baseball's best pitcher plays at Dodger Stadium.

"This year, it was [the New York Mets' Matt] Harvey was the best," Mattingly said. "Last year, it was [the Washington Nationals' Stephen] Strasburg. Every year, Kersh is right there."

Our award picks:Most valuable player — NL: Andrew McCutchen, Pirates; AL: Miguel Cabrera, Tigers.Cy Young — NL: Kershaw; AL: Max Scherzer, Tigers.Rookie — NL: Yasiel Puig, Dodgers; AL: Wil Myers, Rays.Manager — NL: Clint Hurdle, Pirates; AL: Terry Francona, Indians.

Homecoming bluesThis might be the most awkward story line of the postseason: The Oakland Athletics have no place to play next year.

Their Oakland Coliseum lease expires after the season. As of now, the A's have no lease for next season and no contingency agreement to play elsewhere.

The A's and Coliseum officials are negotiating a five-year extension, with three one-year options. Neither the team nor the league appears concerned the deal might collapse, although we can imagine how heartily the San Francisco Giants would laugh if the A's asked to share AT&T Park.

The Giants have succeeded in keeping the A's out of San Jose, at least so far. If the A's get that Coliseum extension, the San Jose move they announced in 2009 would not take place until 2019 — at the earliest. The never-say-quit Bartolo Colon would turn 46 that year.

Power downWhen Bud Selig retires as commissioner in 16 months, his successor will not be granted the same powers of office.

That is not hyperbole. Under the Major League Constitution, the authority granted to Selig to penalize clubs and players with whatever sanction "the Commissioner may deem appropriate" expires "at such time as the current Commissioner ceases to hold office."

The erosion in power could become alarming based on two events this week. On Monday, the Alex Rodriguez arbitration hearing starts. On Friday, MLB and the city of San Jose face off in federal court over the potential move of the A's.

The commissioner's office intends to assert its authority over drug suspensions and franchise relocation. To lose in either case — or both — could reduce the commissioner's power so dramatically that some potential Selig successors might wonder whether the job would be worth it.

Zack Greinke still rolling, but gets no support in Dodgers' 1-0 loss

By Steve Dilbeck

Good news, there’s good news to be found on the Dodgers: Zack Greinke looked sharp in his final start of the regular season.

Bad news, yeah, some of that too. A little too much perhaps.

Despite Greinke’s strong outing, the Dodgers fell to the Colorado Rockies, 1-0, Saturday night as their offense again fell flat in front of 52,879 at Dodger Stadium.

The bad news started even before the first pitch, when the Dodgers ran out to their positions to start the game … and there was no Matt Kemp.

Kemp was scheduled to start in center field, but was a late scratch because his left ankle was sore. The Dodgers called the move precautionary, but it is the same ankle that forced Kemp to sit out 53 games, although a few were added when his hamstring tightened up again.

Recurring injury has been an unfortunate theme for Kemp this season. He has appeared in only 73 of the Dodgers' 161 games.

Saturday’s game offered little from a Dodgers team that scored 11 runs Friday. The Dodgers managed only three hits against six pitchers and went quietly most of the warm fall night.

Their biggest scoring opportunity came after they loaded the bases with one out in the sixth inning on an error, a Hanley Ramirez single and a walk. But reliever Adam Ottavino came on to get Juan Uribe to foul out and Scott Van Slyke to fly out to right field.

Greinke continued his terrific play in the second half, giving up a run and four hits in six innings. He did not walk a batter and struck out seven.

The Rockies scored in the fourth inning on doubles by Troy Tulowitzki and Nolan Arenado. Van Slyke made a diving attempt, but came up short on Arenado’s drive.

Greinke ended his regular season with a 15-4 record and a 2.63 earned-run average. Saturday was his first loss since July 25. In his 12 games since then, he is 7-1 with a 1.58 ERA. He has not given up more than two runs in any of those 12 starts.

Paco Rodriguez, who has struggled this month, was back to form, pitching a perfect eighth inning. He retired the side in order, including two strikeouts. Brian Wilson retired the Rockies in order in the ninth.See, just all kinds of good news.

Dodgers' Matt Kemp late scratch as ankle sore again

By Steve Dilbeck

And for today’s scare, the Dodgers bring you Matt Kemp.

Kemp was a late scratch Friday night, the Dodgers said he was removed for precautionary reasons because of left ankle soreness.

This is the same ankle that earlier caused Kemp to sit out 53 games. He came off the disabled list Sept. 16 and had started every game but one since.

Kemp has been on the DL three times this season because of a hamstring strain, soreness from off-season shoulder surgery and the ankle issue. While rehabbing the ankle, he also irritated the hamstring again.

In the 11 games since coming off the DL, Kemp has hit .314 with one home run and six runs batted in. Kemp has appeared in only 17 of the Dodgers' first 161 games.

The Dodgers are already playing short one outfielder. Andre Ethier remains out because of shin splint-like symptoms in his left leg.

Can Chris Capuano still pitch himself into Dodgers' postseason plans?

By Steve Dilbeck

One inning doesn’t figure to change much in the Dodgers’ overall postseason plans. Still, that was a pretty interesting inning left-hander Chris Capuano threw Friday night.

Pitching for the first time since Sept. 6 when he suffered a mild groin strain, Capuano looked very sharp, retiring the Rockies in order with two strikeouts. He needed only 12 pitches, nine that went for strikes.It’s an awfully late push for a bullpen role, particularly for a career starter who hasn’t really pitched in relief since returning from Tommy John surgery in 2010.

The Dodgers already have two left-handed relievers in Paco Rodriguez and J.P. Howell. But at least Capuano has worked himself into the fringes of the postseason picture.

“The playoffs, all bets are off,” Capuano said. “You just do whatever you have to do to contribute. My main goal was to be healthy at the end of the year and at least be an option. Whatever they decide to do, there’s a lot of good guys competing for those last couple of spots.

“At least I feel healthy and good. That was the main goal. You don’t want to finish the year on the DL or with an injury.”

Capuano came out of Friday’s game without suffering any setbacks and Manager Don Mattingly said he hoped to use Capuano again in Sunday’s regular-season finale.

“If we weren’t thinking about him we wouldn’t have tried to push him to get him back,” Mattingly said. “Another lefty is a value. It allows you to match up more.”

Candidates for the final bullpen position are plentiful. Kenley Jansen, Ronald Belisario, Rodriguez, Howell and Brian Wilson are locks to make the roster, and it would be difficult to leave off Chris Withrow.That would leave Brandon League, Carlos Marmol, Stephen Fife, Edison Volquez and Capuano all competing for the final pitching spot on the roster.

Unveiling a division title banner? Dodgers are better than that

By Steve Dilbeck

Well, that was one lousy idea. I mean, come on, these are the Dodgers. The Los Angeles Dodgers. One of baseball’s most storied teams. Their standards are supposed to be higher than those of the Padres.Yet there they were Friday night, unveiling a sign across the center-field wall that proclaimed:

LA 2013 NL-West Division Champions.

Really? This is what they do now at Dodger Stadium? Hang signs announcing a division title?I don’t think so. At Dodger Stadium they hang World Series banners. And whether it’s been 25 years or not, you don’t overreact to a division title. All that guarantees you is being invited to the first division series.

The Lakers hang NBA championship banners at Staples Center, not division titles. NCAA championship basketball banners are draped from the ceiling at UCLA’s Pauley Pavilion, not conference championships. USC rings the Coliseum with NCAA championship football banners, not conference titles.“I don’t think there’s anything wrong with being proud of what this team has accomplished this year,” said Manager Don Mattingly. “But it’s not where we want to end up.”

They should be proud, but a pregame ceremony to unfurl a new outfield sign proclaiming them division champions seems a bit much. Ambitions run higher here. The Dodgers have been to nine World Series and won it five times since moving to Los Angeles in 1958.

Back at the beginning of the year, one of the Dodgers owners sat in his office and said:

“We want to go to the World Series. If we don't accomplish that, yes, it is not a good season for us. Guys should be saying that. As the ownership group, that is what we are saying.”

It was Magic Johnson, owner of five NBA titles. It was an audacious but true statement. And it's what they should still be saying now, not getting all giddy over a division title that sends you to the postseason dance.

The real challenge starts Thursday. And the reward is a World Series banner. The kind they hang at Dodger Stadium.

DODGERS.COM

Greinke sharp in final tuneup for postseason

By Austin Laymance

LOS ANGELES -- Zack Greinke was the perfect complement to Clayton Kershaw over the final three months of the regular season, and the Dodgers will need continued success from their top two starters in October for the club to reach its lofty goal.

Greinke wrapped up a successful regular season with six innings of one-run ball on Saturday night but took the loss in a 1-0 defeat to the Rockies at a sold-out Dodger Stadium. The right-hander pitched well enough to win his eighth straight decision, striking out seven and walking none, but Los Angeles managed just three hits against Colorado starter Juan Nicasio and five relievers.

With the loss, the Dodgers fell to 12-13 in September and 6-9 in their past 15 games. But as manager Don Mattingly made clear earlier in the week, all that matters is how the club plays in the National League Division Series, which begins Thursday.

Kershaw will start Game 1 of the NLDS, which will be in Atlanta or St. Louis, whichever finishes second in the league. Greinke will start Game 2.

"When those guys take the ball, you feel like you're going to win," Mattingly said. "It's pretty much quality start after quality start. That's just confidence for our club."

As he approaches his first postseason appearance since 2011, Greinke has a 1.58 ERA over his past 12 starts.

"I feel pretty good," he said. "I'm executing pitches pretty well. It could be worse, that's for sure."

Greinke, though, cautioned that winning the best-of-five Division Series won't be a simple task.

"We don't have home-field advantage, that will make it tougher," Greinke said. "Anything can happen in a short series. It's definitely not going to be easy. It's going to take some breaks."

While Kershaw and Greinke give the Dodgers confidence heading into the postseason, there are concerns about the health of the club.

Matt Kemp was scratched from Saturday's lineup five minutes before the game when his left ankle wouldn't get loose. Kemp missed 52 games earlier in the year when he sprained the ankle.

Andre Ethier is in Arizona rehabbing an ankle injury of his own, and Mattingly said he's unsure if Ethier "will be able to get on the field or not" in the NLDS.

Meanwhile, Hanley Ramirez is dealing with an irritated nerve issue in his lower back, and the shortstop hasn't played consecutive games in two weeks.

"It doesn't look like we're going to be total full strength," Mattingly said.

The Dodgers weren't at full strength Saturday, as outfielders Yasiel Puig and Carl Crawford joined Kemp on the bench. That resulted in Skip Schumaker playing center field, flanked by rookies Scott Van Slyke and Nick Buss.

The Dodgers had traffic on the basepaths but couldn't come up with a hit when they needed one. They stranded two runners in scoring position in the second inning, another in the fourth and failed to score after loading the bases with one out in the sixth.

Puig pinch-hit in the seventh but struck out swinging to end the frame.

"It was a tough game," Greinke said. "We played well but their pitcher pitched really well. He had a really good fastball and located it. We had some opportunities but they got out of it."

The Rockies doubled twice in the fourth inning to score the only run of the game.

"Greinke was great," said Rockies manager Walt Weiss. "We scratched the one run across but he's had a helluva year and he was good tonight."

The Dodgers also received solid pitching from their bullpen Saturday, with scoreless innings from Ronald Belisario, Paco Rodriguez and Brian Wilson.

In his first season with the Dodgers, Greinke proved to be worth the six-year, $147 million contract he signed in December. He went 15-4 and posted a 2.63 ERA in 28 starts. The Dodgers were 22-6 when Greinke took the mound.

Greinke's regular season followed a similar pattern to the rest of the club. He was slowed by a broken left collarbone in April, struggled in May and found his stride in June. Once Greinke found his groove, the Dodgers took off and won the NL West for the first time in four years.

"The beginning was pretty hectic, same with the whole team," he said. "I was struggling at the beginning and working to try to get better. Finally everyone got healthy and it took a little bit after that but we started to play better. Not perfect, but a lot of good things and a couple bad things."

Greinke also produced at the plate. He batted .328 (19-for-58) to finish with the highest single-season average for a Dodgers pitcher since Orel Hershiser hit .356 in 1993.

"He's been great," Mattingly said.

The Dodgers will need Greinke to be great in October, too.

Kemp scratched from lineup with sore ankle

By Austin Laymance and Ken Gurnick

LOS ANGELES -- Matt Kemp's left ankle flared up Saturday night, forcing his late scratch from the Dodgers' starting lineup and raising another injury red flag five days before the start of the National League Division Series.

"It's just irritated. Nothing crazy," Kemp said. "I played the last six games and it got a little sore."

Kemp's scratch left three of the Dodgers' four outfielders ailing. Andre Ethier is taking extra batting practice in Arizona while hoping for pain relief in his left ankle after suffering an injury similar to shin splints. It's not clear whether he will be on the first playoff roster.

And Yasiel Puig was limited to a strikeout while pinch-hitting Saturday night after twice fouling pitches off his left shin Friday night, although he is likely to be in the starting lineup Sunday.

Manager Don Mattingly said he's concerned about the health of Kemp, who has already been on the disabled list three times this year with shoulder, hamstring and ankle injuries.

"Well, a little bit [concerned] just because of what we've been through," Mattingly said. "But I don't know how much good it's going to do me to be all nervous and worried about it. That's not going to help it. I feel like we're being cautious. I feel like he's going to be ready to go."

Mattingly conceded that even if Kemp is healthy enough for the playoffs, he won't be the player who was the NL MVP runner-up in 2011.

"I don't think he's running full speed," Mattingly said. "We're not going to get the 40-[steals] type guy. That's just not there, I don't think, at this point from what we've been through with the ankle and the hammy and all that. We're not going to be that. But we're still pretty good. He shows he can do a lot of things."

Kemp said the ankle was sore when he awoke Saturday. He was in the original starting lineup, took batting practice and pregame warmups, but five minutes before game time was scratched.

"Nothing serious. Just a day and I'll see how it feels tomorrow," he said. "I couldn't get loose and decided not to play today. Sprained ankles are tricky sometimes."

Kemp injured the ankle with an awkward slide into the plate after failing to run hard from third base in Washington on July 21, the day he returned from the disabled list and the hamstring strain.

Kemp was activated from the disabled list most recently on Sept. 9 and has gone 11-for-35 (.311) with a homer, three doubles and six RBIs in 11 games. But he hasn't run aggressively on the bases or in the outfield after being cautioned by Mattingly to protect his body for the playoffs.

Puig given night off, expected back Sunday

By Ken Gurnick and Austin Laymance

LOS ANGELES -- Dodgers manager Don Mattingly was thinking about resting Yasiel Puig on Saturday, and that decision became easier when the outfielder twice fouled pitches off his left shin in Friday's game.Puig was not in Saturday's starting lineup against the Rockies but made a pinch-hit appearance, and the rookie is expected back in the lineup for Sunday's regular-season finale.

"He was fine today," Mattingly said. "It's really just me being precautionary with him. We talked yesterday about possibly giving him the day anyway. I want him to play [Sunday]. It's really just being safe with him."

Mattingly is also being cautious with infielder Nick Punto, who was scratched from Friday's lineup due to an in-grown toenail on his right foot.

"We're going to be careful with him, too," Mattingly said. "There's no reason to have to run him out there."

Punto felt well enough to field ground balls and take batting practice before Saturday's game, though."It's feeling better," Punto said. "I'm fine to play."

Hanley Ramirez started Saturday's game, but Mattingly the shortstop would not start Sunday. Ramirez is dealing with an irritated nerve in his lower back and has not started consecutive games since Sept. 11-12.

Dodgers put in extra work on pickoff plays

By Ken Gurnick and Austin Laymance LOS ANGELES -- In preparation for the postseason, the Dodgers took about 45 minutes Saturday afternoon to work on pickoffs.

"It was just stuff we want to go over," said manager Don Mattingly. "You can't get everything done in one day in workout scenarios. We really just wanted to touch on something that we really haven't a whole lot since Spring Training."

Pitchers Ricky Nolasco, Carlos Marmol, Brian Wilson, Edinson Volquez and infielder Michael Young were not with the Dodgers in Spring Training.

"We've got some new guys around the infield with Michael and some different guys, so we want to make sure everybody is on the same page," Mattingly said.

The Dodgers will open the National League Division Series on Thursday in either Atlanta or St. Louis against whichever club finishes with the second-best record in the league. The Dodgers will take Monday off and then work out at Dodger Stadium on Tuesday.

Capuano in postseason mix for lefty relief

By Ken Gurnick and Austin Laymance

LOS ANGELES -- The Dodgers have a lot of difficult decisions to make with their roster for the National League Division Series, and Chris Capuano is now an option for a role in the bullpen as a third left-hander.

Capuano pitched a scoreless inning in relief Friday against the Rockies, his first appearance since coming out of a start Sept. 6 with a strained left groin. Primarily a starter this season, Capuano could provide the Dodgers with short or long relief in October.

"My goal was to give them that option," Capuano said. "We've got a lot of power arms, a lot of talent vying for a few spots. It'll be interesting to see what happens. At least I accomplished my goal of giving them an option."

The next test for Capauno will come Sunday. Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said the club is hoping Capuano can bounce back and be available to pitch in the regular-season finale.

"If there's an opportunity to get me in there another time, I hope I can show them how I bounce back," Capuano said.

The Dodgers' bullpen is crowded without Capuano, though.

Closer Kenley Jansen is a given, as are left-handers Paco Rodriguez and J.P. Howell. Brian Wilson now appears to be the primary setup man, pushing Ronald Belisario down a notch. Carlos Marmol, rookie Chris Withrow and Brandon League are also vying for spots in what figures to be a seven-man 'pen.

"I think another lefty is a value," Mattingly said. "It depends who we're playing against."The Dodgers will open the NLDS on Thursday in either Atlanta or St. Louis

ESPN.COM

Matt Kemp again slowed by ankle

By Dan Arritt

LOS ANGELES -- Dodgers center fielder Matt Kemp was a late scratch prior to his team's 1-0 loss Saturday against the visiting Colorado Rockies after feeling discomfort in his left ankle while warming up.The Dodgers are set to open the National League Division Series on Thursday at either the St. Louis Cardinals or Atlanta Braves.

Kemp, who led the NL in home runs and RBIs two seasons ago, injured the same ankle July 21 and didn't return until Sept. 16. He was hitting .314 since his return.

Kemp declined to speak in depth to reporters after the game, just saying, "I'll wake up [Sunday] and see how it feels."

Kemp went through a 40-minute workout with the team about three hours before the game and later took batting practice. He was even announced as the starter about 10 minutes before the first pitch, but Skip Schumaker jogged out to center field in the top of the first.

"Just as he went to get loose for the game, he was having trouble," Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said. "At that point, we really didn't want to push it."

Kemp had appeared in the first 11 games since his return.

"We had been trying to get him as many at bats as possible without going too far," Mattingly said. "Obviously, today he had trouble getting loose."

The Dodgers are also trying to work outfielder Andre Ethier back into the lineup in time for the playoffs. He has missed the last two weeks with shin splints near his left ankle.

Mattingly confident with Greinke, Kershaw

By Dan Arritt

LOS ANGELES -- The book closed Saturday on another stellar regular season for Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Zack Greinke.

He was the tough-luck loser in a 1-0 defeat at the hands of the visiting Colorado Rockies, but Greinke still finished with a 15-4 record and 2.63 ERA for the NL West champions.

What lies ahead is his second career trip into the postseason. Greinke said he’s satisfied with how he’s pitching.

“It could be worse, that’s for sure,” he said.

Greinke said the only thing that separated this regular season from his AL Cy Young year of 2009 was his consistency. He went 16-8 that year with a 2.16 ERA for a Kansas City Royals team that finished last in the AL Central with a 65-97 record.

“I was more consistent that year and didn’t have any spots where I pitched bad,” he said. “Like this year, there was about a month where it was ugly.”

Greinke then gestured to his left, to the locker stall belonging to left-hander Clayton Kershaw, who is likely to win the NL Cy Young after leading the majors with a 1.83 ERA and the NL with 232 strikeouts.

“Kersh had no bad stretches,” Greinke said. “That’s what you’ve got to do to have a good year like that.”

Despite the late-season injuries that have popped up among his positional players, Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said he feels confident heading into Thursday’s opener of the NL Division Series -- at the St. Louis Cardinals or Atlanta Braves -- knowing he has the 1-2 punch that can wreak havoc in a playoff series.

“When those guys take the ball, you feel like you’re going to win,” Mattingly said. “It’s pretty much quality start after quality start.”

Dodgers held to three hits in 1-0 loss to Rockies

By Dan Arritt

LOS ANGELES -- Seems the Los Angeles Dodgers can’t even make it through pregame warm-ups without losing a key player to injury.

Matt Kemp was a late scratch Saturday evening against the visiting Colorado Rockies after feeling soreness in his left ankle. The Dodgers could have used his bat, as they were shut down by Rockies starter Juan Nicasio and a trail of relievers in a 1-0 loss in the penultimate game of the regular season.

Kemp returned Sept. 16 after missing two months with an injury to the same ankle and a hamstring strain that also popped up late in his rehabilitation. He's been hitting .314 since his return, though he’s hitless in his past nine plate appearances.

Kemp was penciled in to bat fifth and play center and was even announced on the scoreboard about 10 minutes before the first pitch, but it was Skip Schumaker who jogged out to center in the top of the first, with Nick Buss entering the starting lineup in right field.

Juan Uribe moved up one spot to No. 5 in the batting order and came up with the bases loaded and one out in the sixth inning. He fouled out to the catcher before left fielder Scott Van Slyke hit an inning-ending fly out to right. The Dodgers, who will open the NL Division Series on Thursday at either the St. Louis Cardinals or Atlanta Braves, remain the worst-hitting team in the majors with the bases loaded this season (.194).

Buss ended another Dodgers scoring threat by grounding out to first with runners on second and third and two outs in the second inning.

The loss prevented Dodgers starter Zack Greinke (15-4) from winning his eighth consecutive decision and matching his career-high win total. Greinke allowed one earned run on four hits and struck out seven without walking a batter. He lowered his ERA to 2.63, the second-lowest mark of his career after his AL Cy Young season of 2009 (2.16).

Greinke’s only miscue came against Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado with two outs in the fourth and Troy Tulowitzki on second base. Greinke left a 1-2 pitch over the plate and the Orange County native lined it into left-center field, where it fell just out of the reach of a diving Van Slyke.

Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig was held out of the starting lineup for precautionary reasons after twice fouling pitches off his lower left leg in Friday’s victory. He pinch-hit with two outs in the seventh inning and struck out on three pitches.

Lineups: Puig available but off Saturday

By Dan Arritt

LOS ANGELES—Los Angeles Dodgers first-base coach Davey Lopes was taking part in a word association game with a film crew prior to Saturday’s game against the visiting Colorado Rockies when Yasiel Puig’s name came up.

Without hesitation, Lopes answered, “Unpredictable.”

Puig has been with the Dodgers for nearly four months. In that time, they’ve climbed from as far back as 9 ½ games in the NL West standings to division champions. They won 53 of 66 games during their summer surge, including a franchise-record 15 consecutive road games.

Puig has his fingerprints all over one of the great turnarounds in franchise history, hitting .322 since his arrival with 19 home runs among his 42 extra-base hits.

Still, from listening to Dodgers manager Don Mattingly and his coaching staff, it's clear Puig still has a lot to learn.

“We see a guy with just a load of talent, but also you see the young player in him at times,” Mattingly said.

During the Dodgers’ previous homestand, Mattingly spoke of Puig’s lack of control in the outfield. His tendency to overthrow the cutoff man has been well documented, but on this night Mattingly was discussing Puig’s unbridled aggression when chasing down fly balls, saying his teammates don’t trust that he won’t run them over in pursuit.

His baserunning has been just as just as erratic. He’s stolen 11 bases but has been caught eight times. Even more disturbing, he has been picked off, doubled up and run through stop signs to record a number of other outs on the basepaths.

Puig also seems reluctant to take the advice of others. Against the Rockies on Friday night, he fouled a ball of his lower left leg in his first at-bat and hobbled around before eventually grounding out. Mattingly said he brushed off a recommendation to wear a shin guard and later fouled another pitch off the same area in the fifth inning, ultimately causing him to leave the game.

"I would think he would want to wear one, but ...," Mattingly said before just shrugging his shoulders.

Puig took batting practice Saturday and Mattingly said he would be available to play if needed, but is holding him out for precautionary reasons.

A more difficult decision looms Thursday. Who will be the starting outfielders when the Dodgers open the NL Division Series, either at the St. Louis Cardinals or Atlanta Braves? Matt Kemp and Carl Crawford appear healthy and ready, and another veteran outfielder, Andre Ethier, is wrapping up his rehab from an injured lower left leg at the team’s spring training complex in Glendale, Ariz.

With the Dodgers' playoff positioning set, Mattingly was asked if he planned to let the players manage the team in the final two games. Mattingly said he hadn’t thought about that possibility, but then asked reporters who they considered good candidates.

When it was suggested Puig could coach third base, Mattingly answered, “It would probably do him

some good.”

DAILY NEWS

Dodgers are stacked, but World Series champions aren’t always the best teams

By Vincent Bonsignore

Don Mattingly and Mark Gubicza might seem an unlikely pair to demonstrate how brutally cruel or delightfully surprising baseball can be, but their polar opposite takeaways from the 1985 season provide delicious commentary on how malicious America’s Pastime can be.

And proof that the best team doesn’t always win the World Series.

More than a decade before he became the Dodgers’ manager, Mattingly played on a dominant New York Yankees club operating in the powerful American League East. The Bronx Bombers rolled to 97 wins behind Mattingly, Dave Winfield, Rickey Henderson and Ron Guidry and had all the necessary ingredients to cook up a world champion.

The problem: The Yankees shared the division with the 99-win Toronto Blue Jays, generally regarded as the best team in baseball.

Back then, the American and National leagues were each divided into two divisions — unlike the three divisions of today. In addition, the wild card was still nine years from birth, meaning just the four division winners advanced to the playoffs.

As opposed to the 10 teams — including four that play one game for the wild-card berth — that now qualify.

Bottom line, Mattingly and the Yankees were narrowly aced out of the postseason by the Blue Jays.“To win 97 games and not make the playoffs …” Mattingly said, “that’s tough.”

A 14-game winner in 1985, Gubicza, then 23, and the Royals won seven fewer games than the Yankees. But thanks to a soft AL West and winning three of four games against the California Angels in late September, they claimed the division crown and advanced to the postseason.

“We just kind of figured out how to win enough key games to sneak in,” said Gubicza, who now does color commentary for the Angels on Fox Sports.

Mattingly, on the other hand, went home.

“And we owned the Royals that year,” he said.

But they had nothing to show for it, other than a comfortable seat on the couch to watch the Royals famously fall behind 3-1 to the Blue Jays in the AL Championship Series and 3-1 to the St. Louis Cardinals in the World Series.

Only to remarkably stun all of baseball — not to mention themselves — by coming back each time to be crowned world champions.

“To be honest, we probably had no business winning the whole thing that year,” Gubicza said.

And let that be a reminder to Dodgers fans sitting back expecting the Boys in Blue to steamroll to a World Series title simply because they’ve been the most dominant team in baseball the past three months.

Or that the Dodgers, with their gaudy $216 million payroll, will have an easy sprint to the Fall Classic. Or that the combination of Clayton Kershaw, Zack Greinke, Adrian Gonzalez, Hanley Ramirez and Yasiel Puig is too much for the rest of baseball to tame.

Because history has shown time and again baseball just doesn’t work that way.

Their own 1988 Dodgers are the classic example of when their 94 wins paled in comparison to the 100 wins for the New York Mets and Oakland Athletics’ 104.

But it was good enough to win the NL West to advance to the postseason.

Once there, they partnered up with the baseball gods and something extraordinary happened.First, they beat the mighty Mets in seven memorable games, using a ninth-inning home run by light-hitting catcher Mike Scioscia off Mets ace Dwight Gooden in the ninth inning of Game 4 to tie the series rather than fall behind 3-1.

A day later, they beat New York again to return home to L.A. up three games to two. That set the stage for Orel Hershiser to close the Mets out in Game 7 at Dodger Stadium to advance to the World Series.“As far as we were concerned, the Mets were the best team in baseball,” Scioscia said.

In fact, the Mets took 10 of 11 games against the Dodgers during the regular season.

“And it probably should have been 11 of 12,” Scioscia said, laughing. “But the 12th game got rained out in New York.”

Yet it was the Dodgers moving on to the World Series, not the Mets.

There, the Dodgers stunned the powerful A’s with Kirk Gibson’s two-run home run off Dennis Eckersley — the best reliever in baseball at the time — with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning to win Game 1 before rolling to the World Series title in five games.

“Something magical was going on that year,” Gibson said.

That, and Hershiser was pitching out of his mind.

“And if you’re looking for that one common denominator, it’s a pitcher just going off on a dominant roll,” said Eric Karros, who was drafted in the sixth round of the 1988 draft by the Dodgers and became NL Rookie of the Year in 1992.

“A guy who’s going to start Game 1 and Game 5 and then give you some relief in a Game 7.”

In 1985, Kansas City benefited from the pitching of Bret Saberhagen and Danny Jackson, as well as the infamous blown call by umpire Don Denkinger that saved the Royals from elimination in Game 6 of the World Series.

Back home in Indiana, Mattingly learned a valuable lesson.

“That’s when I kinda figured out baseball doesn’t always come down to who the best team is,” he said. “There’s a whole bunch of other factors that sometimes play into it.”

Like the division you play in. Who gets hot at the right time. A pitcher settling into a dominant groove. Unlikely heroes emerging. A timely home run or a curious call by an umpire. Fate and destiny. A well-placed hit or a fan knocking away a foul ball that should have ended an inning.

Point being, sometimes striking the right balance between timeliness, luck, intangibles and a dominant pitcher can turn an 83-win regular-season team like the 2006 St. Louis Cardinals into World Series champions.

Or deliver 10 wild-card teams to the World Series, five of which claimed world championships.

“It’s not always who’s best,” said Karros, now a commentator for Fox. “It’s who’s the hottest and who the luckiest is for that last month of the season.”

Record-wise, the 2006 Cardinals were the 13th-best team in baseball. In fact, five teams that didn’t qualify for the playoffs had better records than the Cardinals, who went 12-17 in September and didn’t win their division until the final day of the regular season.

Yet they got hot at the perfect time, getting unlikely pitching performances from Jeff Weaver, Jeff Suppan and Anthony Reyes throughout the postseason, a clutch home run from Yadier Molina and a bases-clearing triple from Scott Spiezio in the NLCS to upend the 97-win New York Mets before rolling over the 95-win Detroit Tigers to take the World Series.

“That’s what makes baseball so unique,” Gubicza said. “Because you just never know who’s going to get on that unexplainable roll or just piece together enough timely wins or whose going to get those out-of-nowhere clutch performances by guys you don’t expect.”

And it’s what separates baseball from the NBA, where the best regular-season team typically wins the title — see Magic Johnson, Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant and the Lakers or LeBron James and the Miami Heat — or the NFL, where the Super Bowl champion is usually the most dominant regular-season team.

“It’s getting hot, it’s getting lucky, and sometimes it’s something crazy happening out of nowhere,” Karros said.

Like Steve Bartman leaning in front of Chicago Cubs left fielder Moises Alou to deflect away a catchable foul ball in the eighth inning of Game 6 of the 2003 NLCS between the Cubs and Florida Marlins. If Alou makes that catch, the Cubs are four outs from their first World Series since 1945.

Instead, the wild-card Marlins rallied for eight runs in the inning to win 8-3 before winning the series a day later to reach the World Series.

There, they rode the pitching of Josh Beckett to upend the heavily favored Yankees to claim their second World Series championship.

“There’s so many variables involved,” said Karros, who was playing first base for the Cubs that season. “Sometimes things just turn on a dime, and all of a sudden all the momentum shifts to one team. It’s unexplainable, but it happens.”

But just as likely, a hero we never expected might emerge over the next month or so and the unlikeliest team of all could walk off with the World Series.

TRUE BLUE LA

NL playoff standings: Cardinals win 5th straight, move ahead of Braves for top spot

By Eric Stephen

he Cardinals won their fifth straight game on Saturday and inched closer to claiming the top spot in the National League. We will find out on Sunday whether St. Louis or Atlanta is the No. 1 seed, with the No. 2 seed hosting the Dodgers beginning on Thursday.Here are Saturday's relevant results.

National League standings

Div Team W-L Pct GB

NLC St. Louis 96-65 .596 ---

NLE Atlanta 95-66 .590 1

NLW Dodgers 92-69 .571 4

WC1 Pittsburgh 93-68 .578 3

WC2 Cincinnati 90-71 .559 6

Cardinals 6, Cubs 2: Soon-to-be NL Cy Young runner-up Adam Wainwright pitched scoreless ball into the sixth inning, leading St. Louis to a fifth straight win and a one-game lead over the Braves.

Pirates 8, Reds 3: Pittsburgh hit six home runs, including one by old friend Andrew Lambo, to win in Cincinnati again and clinched the top wild card spot over the Reds. Sunday's series finale is now meaningless, but the NL wild card game between these same two teams will be held on Tuesday night in Pittsburgh at 5:07 p.m. PT.

Phillies 5, Braves 4: Jonathan Papelbon nearly blew a 5-1 lead in the ninth inning, but Philadelphia held on to push Atlanta one game back of St. Louis with one game to play.

NLDS scenarios

Dodgers-Braves if...Cardinals beat Cubs OR Phillies beat Braves

Dodgers-Cardinals if...Cubs beat Cardinals AND Braves beat Phillies

The Braves hold the tiebreaker over the Cardinals by winning four of their seven head-to-head games during the regular season. St. Louis clinches the No. 1 seed with either a win over Chicago or a loss by Atlanta to Philadelphia. The Braves need both a Cubs win and to beat the Phillies in order to claim the top spot.

The Dodgers will open the NLDS on the road against the No. 2 seed beginning on Thursday.The regular season's final day finds two meaningful National League games (all times PT):

10:35 a.m. - Philadelphia (Zach Miner) at Atlanta (Julio Teheran) 11:15 a.m. - Chicago (Jeff Samardzija) at St. Louis (Jake Westbrook)

Zack Greinke joins Clayton Kershaw for 1-2 punch

By Eric Stephen

LOS ANGELES -- Just as Clayton Kershaw did on Friday night, Zack Greinke did on Saturday. Both Dodgers ended their seasons with typically excellent performances. Greinke took the loss on Saturday, though he allowed just one run in six innings to the Rockies. But more importantly, the dynamic duo look primed and ready to go when the Dodgers open their NLDS on Thursday and Friday on the road, in either Atlanta or St. Louis.

"It was pretty good. I'm executing my pitches pretty well," Greinke said after the game. "It could be worse, that's for sure."

Greinke finished his season at 15-4 with a 2.63 ERA in 28 starts, with 148 strikeouts and 46 walks, a strikeout-to-walk ratio of well north of three. It is arguably his best season since winning the American League Cy Young Award in 2009, and he was asked to compare the two campaigns.

"I was more consistent that year. I didn't have any spots where I pitched bad, like this year. I had about a month where it was ugly," Greinke said. "Kersh had no bad stretches, and that's what you have to do."

That combination of Greinke and Kershaw gives the Dodgers hope in any playoff series. Even though they will open the NLDS on the road, manager Don Mattingly feels confident with Kershaw and Greinke leading the pitching staff and opening the series.

"[Greinke] gives us that 1-2 punch with Clayton. It gives us two guys that, when those guys take the ball, you feel like you're going to win. It's pretty much quality start after quality start," Mattingly said. "That's just confidence for our club, with two guys that pretty much know they're getting fairly deep into the game.

"It should be an easy one. We'll see." -Zack Greinke, asked if Clayton Kershaw will win the National League Cy Young Award

"When you get to them it's kind of a day off for most of your bullpen. And if you get them back-to-back there's a pretty good chance your bullpen will get some rest. It allows us to plan easier."Greinke allowed 19 runs over his final 16 starts, putting up a 1.58 ERA while averaging 6.80 innings per start.

Kershaw in his last 16 starts had a 1.59 ERA and averaged 7.17 innings per start. On the season he was at 1.83 and 7.15, respectively.

The Dodgers definitely have two horses at the top of their rotation.

"Anything can happen in a short series. It's definitely not going to be easy, but most of our guys are healthy so that should be good," Greinke said. "It should help, but you still need stuff to work out good for you."

Matt Kemp injury: Dodgers CF scratched with left ankle soreness

By Eric Stephen

LOS ANGELES -- Matt Kemp was a late scratch from the starting lineup for precautionary reasons by the Dodgers on Saturday night against the Rockies with left ankle soreness, the team announced. It is the same ankle Kemp sprained on July 21 in Washington D.C., causing him to miss 52 games.Starting Lineups

Rockies DodgersRF Blackmon (L) RF Schumaker (L)LF Culberson C EllisCF Dickerson (L) SS RamirezSS Tulowitzki 1B Gonzalez (L)1B Helton (L) 3B Uribe3B Arenado LF Van SlykeC Pacheco 2B Young2B Herrera (S) RF Buss (L)P Nicasio P Greinke

Kemp was originally in the lineup, batting fifth and playing center field. Nick Buss was inserted into the lineup in right field batting eighth, with Skip Schumaker moving from right field to center field.Kemp had started six straight games and nine of the last 10. He played all 11 games since getting activated on Sept. 16 in Arizona, including a pair of pinch hitting appearances. Kemp is hitting .314/.385/.486 with three doubles and a home run in 39 plate appearances since returning from the disabled list.

On the season Kemp is hitting .270/.328/.395 with six home runs and 15 doubles in 73 games.

Dodgers notes: Yasiel Puig, Nick Punto, NLDS roster, players coaching final game

By Eric Stephen

LOS ANGELES -- On a relatively uneventful day at Dodger Stadium as the Dodgers prepare to host the Rockies for their penultimate regular season game, the main news to report is that Yasiel Puig is healthy.Puig is out of the lineup after hitting two foul balls off of his left shin on Friday night, but he was able to fully participate in a rare full squad workout before the Dodgers took batting practice on Saturday. Puig is expected to start Sunday's regular season finale.

Hanley Ramirez, who is starting Saturday night, will not start on Sunday. He has yet to start consecutive days since Sept. 11-12.

Nick Punto, a late scratch from Friday's starting lineup with an ingrown toenail on his right foot, won't start this weekend though he might pinch hit.

Chris Capuano, who pitched Friday night for the first time in 21 days, is expected to pitch another inning in relief on Sunday.

Most of the pregame talk on Saturday centered on the Dodgers' potential roster for the National League Division Series, which begins on Thursday in either St. Louis or Atlanta. The Cardinals beat the Cubs 6-2 on Saturday, ensuring that the Dodgers won't know their NLDS opponent until Sunday at the earliest.Manager Don Mattingly said he has a good idea what his roster will be for the NLDS, though he didn't reveal much except that the Dodgers will likely take a player or two on their flight Tuesday who might not make the final roster, which is due Thursday morning.

Mattingly and the coaching staff have talked with and will meet with general manager Ned Colletti and his staff over the next few days to finalize the roster.

"When you get 12-15 guys in a room who have been around the game a while, you'll have all kinds of different scenarios that pop up. It's good to throw it around," Mattingly said. "We have a pretty good feel. There are definitely

discussions still going on about which way to go in certain scenarios."

Asked if he had veto power in setting the roster Mattingly just laughed and said, "I doubt it."

If Mattingly is planning to use Sunday's finale to let some veteran players coach, as Joe Torre used to do, he is fairly secretive about it. I asked him about it after Friday's game, and did so again before Saturday's game.

"Since you said that last night, I already forgot it. I probably should think about it, I guess," Mattingly quipped.

That response drew laughter, but not as loud as when Puig was suggested to manage by Dylan Hernandez of the LA Times. Perfect.

Comedian Jim Norton was on the field before the game shooting several bits with Dodgers players for The Tonight Show for NBC. There was a particularly funny one involving Dee Gordon and Juan Uribe. I'm not sure when it will air.Adrian Gonzalez, 100 RBI & consistency

By Eric Stephen

LOS ANGELES -- Lost in the Clayton Kershaw euphoria and in the rare bounty of run support was a milestone achieved by Adrian Gonzalez on Friday night. Gonzalez crushed a home run to right field in the third inning to give him 100 RBI for a fourth consecutive season.

Gonzalez has 100 or more runs batted in six times in the last seven seasons, and in the only season during that span that he didn't reach 100 (2009), he drove in 99 runs. Miguel Cabrera (10 straight seasons) and Prince Fielder are the only other hitters in baseball with at least six years of 100 RBI in the last seven seasons.

I know what you are thinking. What year is this, 1986? Why am I stuck on team-dependent counting stats?

I can't help it. I grew up knowing triple crown stats. I still enjoy them. Simply mentioning RBI shouldn't be the subject of scorn, especially when there is no value judgment attached.

But there is value in what Gonzalez has accomplished, especially with Gonzalez hitting .323/.374/.532 with runners in scoring position this season. He has always hit well with runners in scoring position, .328/.430/.556 in his career, and has talked numerous times about changing his approach in those situations.

The point is that Gonzalez has had a solid season. He is hitting .296/.344/.466, good enough for a 127 OPS+ in a run-scoring environment closely resembling 1992. He has 22 home runs and 32 doubles, but more importantly he has been the rock for the Dodgers in an injury-plagued year for the team.The Dodgers have never in their franchise history had one player get 100 RBI with nobody else driving in 60 runs. Second on the team to Gonzalez in RBI this season is Hanley Ramirez, who has driven in 57 in 85 games.

Perhaps the most impressive number for Gonzalez is his 155 games played. For Gonzalez this is ordinary, even restful, as he will finish with his fewest games played in a season since 2006. He has averaged 159 games a season for eight years.

In 2013, he is the only Dodger with more than 142 games played.

Since the 162-game schedule began in the National League in 1962, this is the eighth season the Dodgers have had just one player reach 150 games. The have had five more seasons with no players with 150 games played, including 2012 but not including the strike-shortened seasons of 1972, 1981, 1994 or 1995.

The average record of those previous 12 teams is 80-82, with only the 1985 and 2006 teams making the playoffs.

And now 2013, too. Thanks to a large contribution from the steady Gonzalez.

Clayton Kershaw, best pitcher in baseball

By Eric Stephen

Clayton Kershaw ended his best regular season to date on Friday night with another gem. He pitched six scoreless innings to lower his ERA to 1.83, best in the majors for a third straight season.Kershaw's average season from 2011-2013: 33 starts, 17-8, 232⅓ innings, 236 strikeouts, 2.21 ERA, 167 ERA+.

Here is reaction to his performance:Tony Jackson at Dodger Scribe wrote, "In an organization that has a long, rich history of great starting pitchers, Kershaw isn’t any of those guys. He is one of those guys. And one day, he may just go down as the best of them."

Ken Gurnick at MLB.com invoked the name of Sandy Koufax: "Koufax had three seasons with an ERA below 2.00, but was 27 years old and in his ninth year in the Majors when he first accomplished the feat in 1963. Kershaw is 25 and in his sixth season in the big leagues."

Jayson Stark at ESPN named Kershaw his choice for the National League Cy Young Award and asked, "Can somebody, anybody, please explain why Clayton Kershaw isn't universally celebrated as the official Best Pitcher in Baseball, in a Verlander-esque kind of way?"

"I'm a little biased," A.J. Ellis told Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times, "but I think I have the best seat, catching the best pitcher in baseball."

Mike Petriello wrote at Mike Scioscia's Tragic Illness that Kershaw "is without question the best pitcher in baseball. He’s on pace to be one of the greatest pitchers in the history of the sport."

Mike Axisa at CBS Sports wrote that Kershaw, with three ERA titles and soon-to-be two Cy Youngs at age 25, "is on an historic career path."

Kenton Wong at ESPN noted that Kershaw posted just the sixth sub-2.00 ERA by a left-handed pitcher since divisional play began in 1969, and the first since John Tudor had a 1.93 ERA in 1985.

Jeff Sullivan on Friday, before Kershaw's final start, wrote at FanGraphs that the Braves and Cardinals are fighting for the right to not face Kershaw twice in a five-game series.

2013 Dodgers blogger night includes visits by Stan Kasten and Ned Colletti

By Craig Minami

The Dodgers held their annual Dodger blogger on Friday night. Brandon Lennox and I were there representing True Blue LA, other Dodger blogs that were there included Roberto Baly from Vin Scully is My Homeboy, "Hideo Nomo" from Sons of Steve Garvey, Stacie Wheeler from Lasorda's Lair, @Eephusblue was there wearing his "Stop Bunting" t-shirt, Sarah Wexler who came all the way from New York and wrote a nice piece on the night on her blog, "We're born again, there's new grass on the field," and Jared Massey from Dodger Diamond.

Dodgers president and CEO Stan Kasten was first to speak and take questions. Kasten spoke about the improvements at the Stadium and how he hopes that the new Wi-Fi system will be working during the

playoffs (note that Sprint opted out of this service though I don't know how that affects Sprint customers at Dodger Stadium). Next season, look for more restaurants and bars at Stadium.Kasten reiterated that parking issues have always been issue at Dodger Stadium, they hope more fans would use the bus service. Some of the issues during the early part of the season was due to construction supplies and debris being in those areas but that has mostly been eliminated.Kasten said that if the Dodgers play the Braves, there will be "mixed emotions," he knows people there that he is fond of and has great memories of working with but he loves being with the Dodgers and wants to beat anyone desperately.

Kasten wouldn't get involved in the politics of "Vin Scully Way" issue except to say "I'm in favor of honoring Vin Scully even if it means opposing Vin Scully himself."

Ned Colletti took questions next. No surprise he sees no weakness in this current team (the strongest of the four Dodger playoff teams he has had under his tenure).

When asked about the post-season roster, he noted that he thinks a long reliever is something to consider to give the manager options if that game's starter doesn't have it; you cannot really go through your bullpen for that one game. Brandon and I both thought this was more an NLCS and World Series type thing (since he used examples in those situations).

Colletti said that the playoff roster has to submitted by 7:00 a.m. PDT Thursday and that they will take every last minute to put it together.

Alexander Guerrero is still being considered, signing a free-agent with an attached draft pick loss is something that will be reviewed by a case by case basis.

We also met Joe Jareck, Yvonne Carrasco, Jon Chapper, Josh Tucker and Steve Brener from the Dodger PR office.

Combined with Clayton Kershaw pitching so well, 11 runs, 3 home runs and good Dodger talk, it was fine evening had by all.

Today in Dodgers history: Orel Hershiser breaks Don Drysdale's scoreless innings record

By Eric Stephen

On Sept. 28, 1988, 25 years ago Saturday, Orel Hershiser broke one of the most unbreakable records in baseball. He passed former Dodger Don Drysdale by pitching 59 consecutive scoreless innings, and needed 10 scoreless innings against the Padres in San Diego to do it.

More Orel: Streak starts 1st shutout 2nd shutout 3rd shutout 4th shutout 5th shutout 1988 player profile

The Dodgers clinched the division two days earlier at Jack Murphy Stadium in San Diego, so the focus was squarely on Hershiser in his final start of the season.Hershiser allowed just four hits through nine innings but the game was scoreless, thanks to Andy Hawkins matching Hershiser pitch for pitch. Through nine innings he was tied with Drysdale, who was broadcasting the game. Per Sam McManis of the Los Angeles Times:

"I really didn't want to break it," Hershiser said. "I wanted to stop at 58. I wanted me and Don to be together at the top. But the higher sources (Lasorda and Perranoski) told me they weren't taking me out of the game, so I figured, what the heck, I might as well get the guy out."

Drysdale, always the competitive type, laughed when told of Hershiser's statement.

"I'd have kicked him right in the rear if I'd have known that," Drysdale said. "I'd have told him to get his buns out there and get them."

Hershiser did pitch the 10th inning, and started by striking out Marvell Wynne, but a third-strike wild pitch allowed Wynne to reach base. Benito Santiago sacrificed Wynne into scoring position, then Randy Ready grounded out to advance Wynne to third base.

Garry Templeton was intentionally walked, the only free pass of the night by Hershiser, to get to the pitcher's spot, putting runners at the corners. But Hershiser got pinch hitter Keith Moreland to fly out to right fielder Jose Gonzalez to break the record and get to 59 innings.

Bill Plaschke of the LA Times shadowed Drysdale that night, who was calling the game:

"I told myself I would not say anything to him about it, and I haven't," he said. "On the postgame show, I've asked him how he feels, and things like that, but I've never talked to him about now it's 40, now it's 49, that kind of thing. I didn't want that monkey on my back when I pitched, and I wouldn't put it on his back."

Later in the interview room, a couple of reporters attempted to speak to Drysdale while the new record-holder was talking. Drysdale pointed to Hershiser.

"You listen to him now," he said.

The Dodgers eventually lost the game 2-1 in 16 innings, but history was made. Hershiser lowered his ERA from 2.90 to 2.26 during the streak and would unanimously win the National League Cy Young Award. During the streak, 41 of his 59 innings came on the road.

Hershiser's streak IP H R ER BB K HBP BF Opponents

Sept. 28 at Padres 10 4 0 0 1 3 0 36 .118/.143/.118

Full streak 59 31 0 0 11 38 0 216 .155/.199/.170

FOX SPORTS

Injuries mount for Dodgers as postseason nears

By Michael Martinez

LOS ANGELES – One by one, these nagging little injuries are creeping up on the Dodgers, and not at a good time. One game remains in the regular season. The postseason begins on Thursday. The last thing manager Don Mattingly needs to worry about is another injury. But he's got one. Maybe there's no reason for concern, but center fielder Matt Kemp – just 11 games into his return from the disabled list – was a late scratch Saturday because of concerns over his left ankle. Kemp missed 52 games recovering from a sprained ankle and then hamstring soreness before he turned to the active list Sept. 17. But Mattingly said Kemp couldn't get loose after taking batting practice, and the wise course was to sit him down. "I feel like we're being a little cautious, but he's been playing a lot," Mattingly said. "We've been trying to give him as many at-bats as possible without going too far, and obviously today he had trouble getting loose, so we didn’t want to take any chances." Kemp wasn't talkative after the Dodgers lost to the Colorado Rockies 1-0, dressing quickly and refusing to take questions from reporters. His only comment: "We'll see tomorrow. Wake up and see how it feels tomorrow." Injuries, some more serious than others, are gradually mounting. Outfielder Andre Ethier is in Arizona hitting in a batting cage as he hopes his sore left ankle allows him to run the bases. Shortstop Hanley Ramirez has been playing sporadically as he deals with a nerve issue in his back. Right fielder Yasiel Puig fouled two balls off his left foot Friday night and didn't start Saturday. First baseman Adrian Gonzalez is playing through a sore quadriceps muscle. Kemp isn't likely to play in Sunday's regular-season finale, leaving the Dodgers with just Carl Crawford in left and Puig in right. So Mattingly has every reason to feel a bit concerned about Kemp. "A little bit, just because of what we've been through," he said. "But I don't know how much good it's going to do me to be all nervous and worried about it. It's not going to help any. I feel like we’re being cautious. I feel like he’s going to be ready to go." If nothing else, Mattingly can feel content about his pitching. Right-hander Zack Greinke gave up one run in six innings, improving his season ERA to 2.63, and allowed just four hits and no walks. The loss was his first since July 25, leaving him with a 15-4 record. Greinke and ace Clayton Kershaw are undoubtedly the strength of the Dodgers as they enter the playoffs. Kershaw is expected to win his second Cy Young Award, and Greinke, after starting slowly and missing a month because of a broken clavicle he suffered in a fight with San Diego's Carlos Quentin, went 12-2 over his last 19 starts. In that span, he gave up two earned runs or fewer 16 times. "He's given us that one-two punch with Clayton," Mattingly said. "He's given us two guys that, when they take the ball, you feel like you're going to win. It's pretty much quality start after quality start."

Greinke was typically low key about his performance, saying, "It’s pretty good. (I'm) executing pitches pretty well. It could be worse, that's for sure." Given what the Dodgers are enduring now, they don't need worse. They need better -- and fast.

Puig held out for precautionary reasons By Michael Martinez

LOS ANGELES – No need to worry about Yasiel Puig. His foot is OK, although he was not in the starting lineup for Saturday night's game against the Colorado Rockies at Dodger Stadium. "He's fine today," manager Don Mattingly said. "It's really just me being precautionary with him. We talked yesterday about possibly giving him the day (off) anyway. I want him to play tomorrow, so we're just being safe with him." Puig fouled a ball off his left foot twice Friday night. The second time, he fell to the ground and then hobbled back to the dugout after flying out to right field. He was removed from the game, but X-rays were negative. Puig was not limping before Saturday’s game and even took part in batting practice before the Dodgers played the Colorado Rockies in their next to last game of the regular season. Mattingly said he wasn’t too concerned about Puig even when he went down, saying, "I've never really seen anybody actually not be able to play the next day from that. It looks really bad, it hurts really bad, but then for some reason that area just doesn't hold the swelling, and the next day they seem to be fine." Mattingly said Puig would be available to pinch hit Saturday. The Dodgers are planning to hold a pep rally for the team after Sunday's game. Fans holding tickets to the game will be admitted to the rally. The Dodgers sold out all three games against the Rockies this weekend, assuring them of 29 sellouts this season. The last time they had more was 1983 when they sold out 37 home games.

YAHOO! SPORTS

Four years later, Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw ready to own MLB playoffs

By Tim Brown

LOS ANGELES – Four years later, he is the ace they hoped he could be then. Four years after the bar debates, after the bleacher observations he surely couldn't be ready to start Game 1 of an NLCS, that for heaven's sake he's practically a child, Clayton Kershaw is the pitcher who changes everything.

"Older," Matt Kemp said. "Wiser."

At 25.

"Yeah," Kemp said, reminded of the last playoff series that included the Los Angeles Dodgers, "everybody's grown up."

Four years later, Kershaw is not Joe Torre's hunch play against the Philadelphia Phillies (he walked five, allowed five runs in 4 2/3 innings and took the loss that start), but Don Mattingly's undisputed No. 1 against whoever may come.

"If he's not the best," Mattingly said Friday afternoon, "you're going to have to sell me on who's better."He stood Friday night before the Colorado Rockies at Dodger Stadium, threw six shutout innings, allowed four hits, all singles, and struck out eight. He finished the regular season, his sixth, with 16 wins, 232 strikeouts, a 1.83 ERA and an 0.92 WHIP in 236 innings.

The list of L.A. Dodgers starters who have gone a season with a lower ERA: Sandy Koufax.Kershaw will lead the NL in ERA, WHIP, strikeouts, other stuff, and likely will win his second Cy Young Award in three years. In between, he finished second, to R.A. Dickey, though he was better in some key statistical categories (like ERA and WHIP). Following one of those well-it's-Coors-Field kind of starts in Colorado on Sept. 2, Kershaw's ERA was 1.33 over his final four starts, and he enters the postseason on a run of 13 consecutive scoreless innings, over which he had 18 strikeouts.

As capable as he has been in the four years since – 64-33 record, three ERA titles, two strikeout titles, a 2.37 ERA over 131 starts, a rising standing in a largely veteran clubhouse – Kershaw has not thrown a postseason pitch since 2009, the byproduct of an organization that lost its footing under previous ownership. He used the time to develop a slider that is among the best pitches in the game, and to nurse a changeup that has its moments, and to command both sides of the plate with four pitches.

"Four years in the big leagues," he said, "you'll learn a lot. You learn how to pitch a little bit. I feel like I'm definitely prepared."

If a ballplayer is good enough, and if his team is good enough, and if his prime starts soon enough or extends long enough, then he comes upon a time such as Kershaw does. He has dominated April through September for those four years. At 25, he has just put behind him the most precise and most relentless season of his professional career.

Four years later, Kershaw has arrived at the place that measures many, pitchers and batters alike. It is where greatness can become something more, something like legend. Once cast into October as a confident young man, carrying two pitches not four and a sense of what worked if not certainty, he returns a grown man, a leader, and the Dodgers' hope that 25 years is quite long enough. Both for themselves, as they last were World Series champions in 1988, and for Kershaw, who was born that very year."He is keenly and tremendously refined," Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti said of the pitcher Kershaw was then to the one he is now. "I'm talking about everything that happens on the mound, whether it's physical or in the mind, on the mound, in the clubhouse, all he does. He refuses to accept anything that isn't the absolute best."

In that Friday night start, he didn't merely beat the Rockies with 82 pitches – a shortened start in preparation for his Game 1 start Thursday in St. Louis or Atlanta – over six innings. He picked a runner off first. He laced a single. He scored a run. He played the game. Then he tipped his cap, was shoved to the top step of the dugout for a curtain call for the 29th sellout – in 79 dates – at Dodger Stadium, and entered the postseason. It's out there, again. Out there, finally, after four years.

"He's the same guy," Mattingly said. "The same person. You probably wouldn't recognize the pitcher he is now though."

The air chills. The light focuses, sharpens. The world leans in. And we wait to see what October pulls from Kershaw.

"That's sports, right, in general?" Mattingly said. "We want to see what a guy can do on the big stage. For most fans, it's probably the way it pushes you to the next level. It pushes you to another level still."

His hair damp from a post-game shower, Kershaw considered that. He wore board shorts and a T-shirt. His beard grows grudgingly. He's still just 25 and looks barely that. Still, perhaps, in some ways, practically a child. Only not here, not at 7:00 on the night of a start, not when there's a game to pitch, a game to play.

The regular season was behind him. A big game awaited.

"Now's the time," he said. "I'm going to start thinking about it. It's all about the playoffs. It's all about Game 1 for me.

"Nobody remembers second place. Nobody remembers who won the American League or who won the National League. They remember who won the World Series. At the end of the day, unless you win the whole thing, no one remembers."

Four years later, the ball is his. Again.

LA OPINION

Huele a playoffs en Los Ángeles

By Carlos Alvarado

Es solo la víspera de los playoffs, los últimos suspiros de esta moribunda campaña, y ya en el Dodger Stadium se percibe el ambiente a postemporada, anoche 52,367 fanáticos celebraron el triunfo 11-0 de los Dodgers sobre los Rockies de Colorado.

Clayton Kershaw le dio los toques finales a su brazo preparándose para abrir el primer juego de la Serie de División el próximo jueves en San Luis. El estelar zurdo lo hizo como un anticipo de lo que les espera a los Cardenales.

Kershaw recorrió seis innings sin permitir carreras y aisló 4 hits reduciendo su efectividad a 1.83. También ponchó a ocho incrementando a 232 K's, también cifra tope en el viejo circuito.

Así, el as de la rotación de los Dodgers cierra la temporada con récord de 16-9, como el lanzador con la mejor efectividad en las Grandes Ligas y el primero en hacerlo en tres campañas seguidas desde que lo lograse otro grande: Greg Maddux (1993-95).

Antes del partido, Adrián González comentó que la adrenalina sube un tanto en los playoffs, pero la mística ganadora tiene que ser la misma en cada juego.

El "Titán" hizo válidos sus comentarios al pasar de las palabras a los hechos.

Fue en el tercer episodio cuando con la cuenta en 2-2 envió la bola al otro lado de la barda del jardin derecho.

El 22º. jonrón del año permite al toletero zurdo mexicano completar las 100 carreras impulsadas por sexta vez en una temporada, uniéndose al venezolano Miguel Cabrera (7) y Prince Fielder (6) como los únicos bombarderos en lograr esa proeza en los últimos siete años en las Ligas Mayores.

En deuda con el rubro de producción en los últimos dos juegos en San Francisco, los Dodgers no esperaron mucho para cruzar el home. Lo hicieron en el mismo primer episodio.

Carl Crawford sacó sencillo al central, pero fue eliminado en segunda en jugada de preferencia tras rola de Matt Kemp. El ahora saludable toletero derecho llegó quieto a primera y Adrián siguió con un largo sencillo a lo profundo del bosque central derecho.

Acto seguido, Juan Uribe impulsó a Kemp y a González con doblete al jardín central. A.J. Ellis se trajo al home a Uribe con sencillo y el otro Ellis (Mark) impulsó al catcher veterano. La madrugadora emboscada dejó como saldo cuatro carreras y cinco hits contra el abridor, el derecho Collin McHugh (0-3).

Crawford llegó a la media docena de jonrones descargando un bombazo por el jardín derecho con dos a bordo aumentando la pizarra a 8-0.

Los Ellis cambiaron las cifras a 11-0. A.J. puso el 10-0 con su décimo tablazo del año con uno a bordo y Mark agregó la undécima rayita con hit al central en el sexto.

ESPN DEPORTES

Juan Nicasio superó a Greinke

Rigo Cervantez

Yasiel Puig fue limitado a un turno al bat como emergente, Carl Crawford tuvo la noche libre, Andre Ethier se espera que se una al equipo hasta el lunes y Matt Kemp fue borrado de la alineación de último minuto, por ello los Dodgers de Los Ángeles carecieron de punch y fueron blanqueados por los Rockies de Colorado, 1-0, este sábado, frente al vigésimo octavo lleno total de Dodger Stadium en la temporada, con 52 mil 279 en la casa.

Molestias en el tobillo izquierdo hicieron que el jardinero central Matt Kemp fuera retirado de la alineación, de última hora "como medida precautoria," aseguró el timonel de los Dodgers, Don Mattingly, quien aseguró que no se trata de algo grave. "Él hizo todo el trabajo previo al juego, incluyendo la práctica de bateo, con normalidad, sin sentir molestia alguna, pero cinco minutos antes de iniciar el encuentro, dijo que sentía algún problema al intentar relajarse, por lo que decidimos no arriesgarlo," detalló Mattingly.

- ¿Sientes que podrás jugar mañana?- se le preguntó al jugador-.

"Vamos a ver," dijo, simplemente Mat Kemp al abandonar apresuradamente el vestuario del equipo. Yasiel Puig, por su parte, había sido descartado para intervenir en el duelo, desde temprano, el sábado, debido al pelotazo que sufriera en su pie izquierdo, la noche anterior, que parece, tampoco es de gravedad.

"Cuando Yasiel se enteró que Matt Kemp no iba a jugar, rogaba que lo incluyéramos en su lugar, pero decidimos que no era conveniente," indicó

Mattingly, hablando de Puig, quien, adelantó, jugará este domingo, en el último de la serie frente a los de Colorado.

Incluso, el guardabosques cubano salió a batear como emergente, en la séptima entrada y se ponchó. Irónicamente, mientras en algún momento de la temporada, Don Mattingly hacía malabares con la posibilidad de contar hasta con cuatro jardineros estelares para cubrir tres puestos, en este juego, no pudo contar con ninguno de ellos: Andre Ethie, Carl Crawford, Matt Kemp y Yasiel Puig.

ZACK GREINKE"Mi idea es tratar de estar listo para los playoffs, realizar lo mejor de mis lanzamientos," aseguró el derecho Zack Greinke (15-4), quien trabajó durante seis episodios, permitiendo 4 imparables y una carrera, para terminar siendo derrotado.

Luego, el miembro de una pegada de 1-2, junto a Clayton Kershaw, en la que confían los de Chávez Ravine, se refirió a lo que ha sido esta campaña para él: "Pienso que estuve mal, al inicio de la temporada, como todo el equipo.

Después, fue una lucha permanente para tratar de mejorar," señaló el nativo de Orlando, Florida. Juán Nicasio (9-9), lanzó 5 entradas y un tercio, y solo le lograron conectar tres imparab, los de Michael Young, Juán Uribe y Hanley Ramírez, se adjudicó la victoria, mientras que Rex Brothers lograba su rescate número 18 en la temporada.

LA UNICA ANOTACIONLa combinación de dos batazos de dos esquinas en el inicio del cuarto capítulo produjo la primera y única anotación de la noche y fue a la cuenta de los Rockies, por cortesía de un doble disparado por Troy Tulowitzki, una línea que pasó silbando, por el rumbo de la tercera base, para que luego el parador en corto se fuera hasta la registradora, con el batazo de dos bases de Nolan Arenado, hacia el jardín izquierdo central.

DODGERSSCRIBE.COM

Kemp’s ankle flareup isn’t serious, but …

By Tony Jackson

No one seemed all that concerned about Matt Kemp‘s left ankle after the game tonight, including Kemp himself, who stopped on the way out of the clubhouse to pose for a photo with a fan who was waiting outside the door and flashed that familiar smile that kind of told you there was nothing seriously wrong. He had been scratched from the lineup just before game time because the ankle just never quite got loose during batting practice, and manager Don Mattingly said Kemp isn’t likely to play in tomorrow’s regular season finale, either, just as a precaution with the playoffs coming up.

In a weird way, though, Kemp’s latest issue with an ankle that landed him on the disabled list in July — a stint that wound up lasting almost two months because he felt tightness in his right hamstring during what were supposed to be the final days of rehabbing the ankle — seemed to underscore the fact that these Dodgers might have become alarmingly vulnerable at the worst possible time.

Andre Ethier already is questionable for the National League Division Series roster with his own ankle problem, which he is trying to work through now in the Arizona Instructional League. Mattingly still has to be extra careful with Hanley Ramirez, although after playing him sporadically since the Dodgers clinched the division title more than a week ago, Mattingly has vowed that Ramirez will be in there every day during the postseason — unless, of course, another injury gets in the way of that plan. And Mattingly admitted after the game that Kemp probably won’t be able to run full strength at any point the rest of the way, however long that ends up being.

Oh, and Yasiel Puig fouled a ball off his foot last night and wasn’t in the lineup tonight, although he did pinch hit and is expected to start tomorrow.

In a way, it’s like being out in the desert on bald tires, the nearest towns 100 miles behind you and 100 miles ahead, and you’re just hoping you can make it to civilization before one of those tires blows out. The Dodgers are hoping their playoff run lasts a while, and three of their most important offensive players are dealing with physical issues of varying degrees while everyone in the organization crosses their fingers and holds their breath in hopes that those players can make it all the way to the end of that run without something else happening to them.

By my quick count from just going down the list, the Dodgers enter the final day of the season with an exact total of 1,100 games missed by guys on the disabled list this year — and that doesn’t count the guys who missed games with little injuries that weren’t serious enough to put them on the DL, or guys who would’ve gone on the DL if their injuries hadn’t happened after Sept. 1, when the Dodgers had extra players already on hand to pick up the slack.

As magical as this season has been for the Dodgers, it also has been a snakebitten one. Those injuries probably were THE reason the Dodgers got off to such a slow start, and they have been the biggest hurdle the team has had to overcome as it turned that season around and marched toward the playoffs.Those playoffs are looming now, less than a week away. And if we know nothing else about how it’s going to go when the Dodgers finally get there, we at least know this: the Dodgers can’t really afford to lose any of their key players in the postseason. It’s not necessarily a death knell if an injury does occur — we all know what happened after Kirk Gibson got hurt in Game 5 of the 1988 National League

Championship Series — but it will create another uphill climb for a team that spent much of the summer doing exactly that, climbing uphill.

So go ahead and get excited about the fact that the Dodgers are about to play either the St. Louis Cardinals or the Atlanta Braves in the playoffs. But as you’re doing that, don’t forget to cross your fingers and hold your breath, as well.

Because right now, the Dodgers are in the desert, and there isn’t a tire shop around anywhere.

Rockies 1, Dodgers 0

By Tony Jackson

Zack Greinke was once again solid in his final regular-season start for the Dodgers, but a lack of run support brought an end to the veteran right-hander’s 11-start unbeaten streak. Greinke gave up four hits and didn’t walk a batter while striking out seven over six strong innings, but he gave up the only run of the game when Troy Tulowitzki‘s one-out double in the fourth was followed by Nolan Arenado‘s two-out double.

Greinke hadn’t lost since July 25 against Cincinnati.

Greinke finished the season 15-4 with a 2.63 ERA. He will get the ball on Friday for Game 2 of the Dodgers’ National League Division Series, which now will be in Atlanta unless the Braves defeat the Phillies tomorrow AND the Cardinals los to the Cubs.

The Dodgers (92-69), meanwhile, were completely shut down by the Rockies’ Juan Nicasio and a parade of relievers.

Spring training comes to late September

By Tony Jackson

One of my favorite stand-up comedians, Jim Norton, stopped by today to film one of his field bits for The Tonight Show. He’s the bald guy in the jersey seen here. He interviewed several Dodgers players for a segment that will air on Tuesday night. Got to meet him and chat with him for a couple of minutes. Very nice guy. If you’re not familiar with him, here is a sampling. He uses a lot of self-deprecation in his routines, and he also is an absolute master at using his rather odd appearance and facial expressions to heighten the comedic effect.

What also took place on the field before the game today were a lot of drills. I’m talking spring-training type drills. Which kind of makes sense when you consider that these final two games mean absolutely nothing now, there are some guys who have been added SINCE spring training, and if spring training is about getting ready for the games that count, this weekend is kind of like spring training for the games that REALLY count.

One of the things they worked on was pickoff moves to second base.“Just some stuff we wanted to go over,” Don Mattingly said. “You can’t get to everything in one day in a workout scenario, so we just talked about some things we haven’t really done since spring training. We

have some new guys around the infield like Michael (Young), and we just wanted to make sure everybody is on the same page.”

Moved into the dining room to work before the game just because when it’s hot outside, the press box traps heat like a greenhouse. As I was sitting here writing, Tracy Ringolsby, the Hall of Fame baseball writer who covers the Rockies and who taught me everything I know about covering this game when I worked alongside him at the old Rocky Mountain News in the late 1990s, was standing nearby having a conversation with Dodger Stadium organist Nancy Bea Hefley. They were talking about, of all things, Wyoming.

Tracy very proudly lives in Cheyenne, and Nancy has a daughter who used to live in Meeteetse (it’s pronounced Muh-TEET-see), which, according to the 2010 census, has a population of 327. If you have never been to Wyoming, I can tell you from experience that there is Cheyenne, there is Casper — hometown of former Dodgers outfielder Mike Devereaux and former Reds pitcher Tom Browning, who famously perfect-gamed the Dodgers in 1988, and the town where the Orange County Register’s Bill Plunkett once briefly worked as sports editor of the local daily — and there is Laramie, home of a university. Other than that, there are a lot of people who don’t live anywhere near any other people, and there are a lot of cows.

So Nancy happened to mention that while driving to visit her daughter once, she drove through a town, the name of which she couldn’t recall, that had a posted population of TWO. Well, Tracy one-upped her on that. Referring to the town of Buford, which sits on I-80 between Cheyenne and Laramie, he said, “It has a population of one. The guy’s wife died.”

Decisions, decisions … but all in good time

By Tony Jackson

Don Mattingly said the first discussion he had with general manager Ned Colletti about the postseason roster didn’t take place until TODAY. And it was clearly the first of many, because the roster doesn’t have to be set until 10 a.m. Thursday morning, and that’s 10 a.m. in the time zone of whatever city that day’s National League Division Series opener is held in — i.e., 10 a.m. Eastern time if it’s Atlanta, Central time if it’s St. Louis.

And the usual way of the Dodgers is to use every minute of that allotted time. So when the team charter flight leaves on Tuesday afternoon headed east, there will be a lot of guys on it who WON’T be on the NLDS roster and won’t know it yet — although Mattingly said even if cuts were made BEFORE the flight, a lot of the guys who didn’t make it still would be taken along. Keep in mind that if a player is injured DURING the series, he still can be replaced mid-series by somebody who didn’t make the roster. So it’s obviously a good idea to keep some of those guys around and handy.

Mattingly said whether the Dodgers play the Braves or the Cardinals also could have some bearing on who makes the roster. But as he has done from the moment he started getting questions on this subject — and that moment was WAY before the Dodgers actually clinched the division title — Mattingly steadfastly refused to offer even the slightest hint into what he and Colletti are thinking in terms of roster spots.

I asked about the possibility of a three-man rotation — which, with two off-days, still would mean only one game in which a pitcher would have to go on short rest (that would be Clayton Kershaw in a possible Game 4).

“That isn’t something we have talked about,” Mattingly said. “(But) everything is on the table, I think, when you’re talking about the playoffs.”

The guess here is the three-man or four-man decision won’t be completely locked in until after the series has started, and maybe not even until after Game 3.

MLB.COM

Dodgers' starters rested and ready for playoffs

By Tracy Ringolsby

As if becoming only the fourth team to rally from last place on July 1 or later and advance to the postseason wasn't eye-opening enough, the Los Angeles Dodgers ran away with the National League West, giving them the final days of the regular season to get their starting rotation adjusted for the playoffs.

And it is the rotation that will be key to the Dodgers in October.

St. Louis' rotation has been dominant in September -- going 13-5 with a 2.50 ERA heading into Saturday's action -- but St. Louis didn't clinch the NL Central until Friday, meaning it didn't get a chance to provide extra rest.

The Dodgers, meanwhile, have been juggling their rotation for two weeks.

Clayton Kershaw, who started Friday's 11-0 victory against the Rockies, and Zack Greinke, who was scheduled to start Saturday, each had an extra day of rest prior to their final outing of the regular season. They both also will have a fifth day off before making their NL Division Series debuts -- Kershaw in Game 1 on Thursday and Greinke is Game 2 on Friday. Kershaw also had an extra three days off prior to his penultimate start of the regular season.

Hyun-Jin Ryu will work on normal rest in the season finale on Sunday, but he will then have six days off before Game 3, which will be at Dodger Stadium on Oct. 6.

Kershaw was 2-1 with a 1.33 ERA in his past four starts, working 13 shutout innings in the final two. Greinke went into Saturday with a 7-0 record and 1.49 ERA his previous 10 starts. Ryu goes into Sunday at 2-2 with a 2.30 ERA his past four starts, and he has allowed three runs in 15 innings the past two.The Dodgers, who have the third best record among NL division champions, know they will open on the road, but they don't know if they'll begin in Atlanta or St. Louis.

Kershaw has been solid on the road (8-3, 2.14 ERA), but he did not pitch against Atlanta this season, and he was 0-2 with a 4.15 ERA against St. Louis. Greinke was 7-2 with a 3.21 ERA on the road. He won his one start each against Atlanta and St. Louis, working seven shutout innings against the Braves.

Ryu will make his postseason debut at Dodger Stadium, where he has gone 7-3 with a 2.23 ERA in his rookie season.

The Dodgers joined the 1914 Boston Braves, '73 New York Mets and '95 Seattle Mariners as teams to rally from being in last place July 1 or later to finish in first place.

Aged successRockies right fielder Michael Cuddyer is making a strong push to win the NL batting title. He went into Saturday having hit .397 in September, and with a league-leading .333 season average that is nine points ahead of Atlanta's Chris Johnson of Atlanta, who ranks second. Cuddyer will be 34 years, six months and two days old Sunday.

Only five players older than Cuddyer have won the NL batting title since division play began in 1969. Barry Bonds did it twice, including in 2004, at the age of 39 years, two months and nine days, and Tony Gwynn three times, including 1997, at the age of 37 years, four months and 19 days. Others who were older include Chipper Jones in 2008 (36 years, five months and four days), Al Oliver in 1983 (35 years, 11 months and 19 days), and Larry Walker in 2001 (34 years, 10 months and seven days).

Managerial merry-go-roundThere are five managers at the end of their guaranteed deals, including Dodgers manager Don Mattingly, who does have an option for 2014, and Tigers manager Jim Leyland. Both are more focused on managing in the postseason than their contract situations.

And then there are Ned Yost in Kansas City, Ron Gardenhire in Minnesota and Joe Girardi with the Yankees, whose long-term ties to the Cubs and Chicago have created speculation he could be of interest to the Cubs.

Already settled are the futures of Ryne Sanderg, who signed a three-year deal with the Phillies, and Terry Collins, who will receive a two-year extension from the Mets, according to reports that surfaced Saturday. Rockies owner Dick Monfort said he wants manager Walt Weiss back, and Weiss said he wants to return. Nationals manager Davey Johnson made it clear before the season that he would retire after this year, and Seattle manager Eric Wedge announced Friday that he won't be back in 2014.

Quickly• There have been 240 extra-inning games this season, three more than the previous Major League record, set in 2011. Arizona leads the majors with 25 (17-8) and has played a record 81 total extra innings -- 11 more the previous record set by the 1969 Minnesota Twins.• The Cardinals are the fifth Major League franchise with at least 30 90-win seasons since 1900. The Yankees have had 60, followed by the Giants (42) and Dodgers (34), and tied with the A's.• The Padres' more hitter-friendly realignment of Petco Park resulted in 146 home runs this year, second most in the nine-year existence of the park. There were 157 home runs in 2006. The Padres hit 66 homers this season, 19 more than a year ago, and Will Venable hit 15 of his 22 home runs at home

Out of left fieldPittsburgh's PNC Park will host the first postseason game in its 13-year history on Tuesday, becoming the 67th ballpark in history to field a playoff game, and the fourth in Pittsburgh, according to stats guru Bill Arold.

The Pirates hosted their first four postseason games at Exposition Park during the 1903 World Series. They played 13 playoff games from 1909-60 at Forbes Field, and 26 games at Three Rivers Stadium. The original Yankee Stadium holds the record with 161 postseason games, including 100 World Series games.

Among current facilities, Fenway Park is the leader with 68 postseason games, followed by Dodger Stadium (55), the O.co Coliseum (54), Turner Field (36) and Progressive Field (34), each of which could add to their totals this season. The Red Sox, Dodgers, A's and Braves won division titles, and the Indians are battling Tampa Bay and Texas to host the American League Wild Card Game.