MLB Player News

The Dodgers have named Zack Greinke the starter for Friday's Game 1 of the National League Championship Series.

Greinke took the loss in Game 2 of the divisional-series round against the Braves after giving up two earned runs on four hits and no walks in six innings. His opponent will be either the Pirates or Cardinals, the latter of which scored 11 runs (eight earned) in 11 2/3 innings over two starts in the 2011 NLCS when Greinke was a member of the Brewers.

Dodgers starter Clayton Kershaw took the mound Monday night in Los Angeles starting on three days rest for the first time in his career in the all-important Game 4 of the National League Division Series against the Braves. 

Manager Don Mattingly's decision to give Kershaw the ball certainly worked out, though the starter took the no-decision. Juan Uribe's eighth-inning two-run homer gave the Dodgers the 4-3 lead and the series. 

Kershaw did not give up an earned run in the game as he allowed two unearned on three hits and one walk over six strong innings and 91 pitches. Kershaw struck out six as his postseason ERA is at 0.69 after two outings against Atlanta. 

Kershaw has given up one earned run over 13 innings this postseason thus far with 18 strikeouts and is 1-0. He went 16-9 with a 1.83 ERA during the regular season over 33 starts with 232 Ks over 236 innings. Kershaw is surely to make his next start early in the NLCS, though his opposition has yet to be decided. 

The Pittsburgh Pirates have announced that rookie Gerrit Cole will get the ball to start Game 5 of the National League Division Series Wednesday, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Manager Clint Hurdle made the decision to start Cole over A.J. Burnett following Monday's Game 4 loss to the Cardinals to even the series at two games apiece. 

Burnett was blasted as the Cardinals beat him 9-1 in Game 1 of the playoff series. Cole was terrific in a Game 2 win and will get the ball on regular rest. 

Pirates starter Charlie Morton put forth an admirable performance on the mound Monday afternoon during his start in Game 4 of the National League Division Series against the Cardinals. 

Morton took the loss on the start as the Cardinals managed to even up the series at two games apiece. He threw 92 pitches over 5 2/3 innings as he gave up two earned runs on three hits and four walks. He kept the Pirates in the game, but they couldn't rally in the 2-1 loss. 

Morton, who struck out four batters and gave up a two-run homer to Matt Holliday in the sixth inning, had a solid season for the Bucs over 20 starts. He went 7-4 with a solid 3.26 ERA and 85 strikeouts over 116 innings. 

Cardinals 22-year-old starting pitcher Michael Wacha took the mound for Game 4 of the National League Division Series in Pittsburgh Monday afternoon. He put together another special outing in earning the win and evening up the series at two games apiece. 

Wacha surrendered a long solo home run to Pedro Alvarez in the eighth inning with one out. He had not allowed a single hit to that point. Wacha finished after 7 1/3 innings of one-run, one-hit baseball and earned the win, his first in postseason play. 

He walked two batters and struck out nine in the performance over 96 pitches. Wacha lost a no-hitter with two outs in his final start of the regular season. He's pitching his best baseball right now for St. Louis. Wacha finished his first major league season going 4-1 with a 2.78 ERA over 64 2/3 innings with 65 strikeouts. 

The Dodgers decided to scrap their initial plan of starting Ricky Nolasco for Game 4 of their National League Division Series against the Braves, according to MLB.com.

Instead, Clayton Kershaw will take the mound on short rest Monday in the Dodgers' attempt to close out the best-of-five series.

Contrary to earlier reports, the Dodgers changed course and decided to start ace Clayton Kershaw on short rest to face the Braves in Game 4 of the National League Championship Series, according to MLB.com.

When Kershaw starts on three days rest Monday, it will be the first time in his career he has done so. Ricky Nolasco had been initially tabbed to start Game 4 in order to keep Kershaw on normal rest.

With Ricky Nolasco being announced as the Dodgers' starting pitcher for Game 4 of the National League Division Series against the Braves, Clayton Kershaw won't need to be used on short rest to make that start.

The Dodgers had considered naming Kershaw as their starter for Monday's Game 4, but now his next start will likely either come in a deciding Game 5, or with a Game 4 victory, in Game 1 of the National League Championship Series.

Dodgers pitching coach Rick Honeycutt said the team will definitely go with Ricky Nolasco as their starter for Game 4 of the National League Division Series against the Braves, as reported by the Los Angeles Times.

Had the Dodgers entered Monday's game with a 2-1 deficit in the best-of-five series, they would have considered using ace Clayton Kershaw on short rest instead.

Braves starter Julio Teheran took the loss in a disastrous start in Game 3 of the NLDS Sunday against Los Angeles.

Teheran allowed six runs on eight hits over 2 2/3 innings. Although he set a Braves rookie postseason record with five strikeouts and threw just 21 balls in 66 pitches, he was unable to avoid hard contact. Still, given the lack of depth in the Braves rotation and his excellent performance in the regular season, he would likely maintain his rotation spot should the Braves come back and advance to the NLCS.