With rainout, Clayton Kershaw is unlikely to start NLDS Game 4

Saturday’s rainout threw a wrench in Dave Roberts’ plans for the remaining NLDS match-ups. According to the Los Angeles Times’ Bill Shaikin, pushing left-hander Rich Hill to Sunday’s start means that the Dodgers won’t have him available for a potential Game 5 scenario on Thursday. Pitching Hill on short rest, especially with the possibility of re-aggravating his blister, just isn’t an option for Roberts.

Prior to Game 2 of the NLDS, which has been rescheduled for 1 PM EDT tomorrow, Roberts name-dropped Clayton Kershaw as a potential starter for Game 4. With the postponement, the Dodgers will likely turn to 20-year-old Julio Urias instead. This way, Kershaw will remain available for Game 5 on regular rest, and Hill will be spared a start on short rest as well.

Urias comes with his own limitations, however, most notably an innings limit that will prevent the starter from pitching deep into the game. It’s not an ideal scenario, especially if the Dodgers find themselves down 2-1 by Thursday, but it’s the one that currently makes the most sense for the rest of the rotation.

An alternate solution? Clinching the NLDS in three.