Clayton Kershaw might move into rotation against Phillies
DODGERS FYI
The move would be made to counter the left-handed bats in Philadelphia's lineup, including Chase Utley and Ryan Howard. He is being considered for the fourth spot.
Left-hander Clayton Kershaw could be moved into the Dodgers' rotation for the National League Championship Series, Manager Joe Torre said Monday. The reason would be to counter the left-handed bats in the Philadelphia Phillies' lineup, including Chase Utley and Ryan Howard.
"They're certainly different from Chicago, as far as their damage guys are concerned," Torre said.
Dodgers right-handers Derek Lowe, Chad Billingsley and Hiroki Kuroda shut down the heavily right-handed Chicago Cubs lineup in the NL division series.
The plan, as it stands now, is for Lowe, Billingsley and Kuroda to start the first three games of the NLCS in that order. Kershaw, 20, is being considered for the fourth spot.
Kuo coming back?
Left-handed reliever Hong-Chih Kuo, who missed the NLDS because of discomfort in his elbow, could be added to the NLCS roster.
Kuo threw a 30-pitch bullpen session Sunday and said he felt no pain. The final exam for his elbow will be a simulate game this morning.
Because Kuo was throwing on flat ground during the NLDS, Torre said he wasn't concerned about his conditioning.
"His arm's in shape," Torre said.
Torre said that Kuo is the only player who wasn't on the NLDS roster that he is considering for the NLCS.
No set closer
Torre refused to name a closer, saying the duty could fall to either Jonathan Broxton or Takashi Saito.
Pitching coach Rick Honeycutt told Saito at the start of the playoffs that he would be closing, but he gave up two runs and failed to get an out in his only NLDS appearance. Broxton, who was the Dodgers' closer in the two months that Saito missed because of a sprained elbow ligament, was dominant in converting a four-out save to close out the series.
Though Torre admitted that he would like to make sure he has "some insurance" for Saito if he uses him in the ninth inning -- namely, having Broxton available to relieve him -- he said the former All-Star could be asked to close a one-run game if the matchups favored him.
Left-handers are hitting .244 off Saito and .270 off Broxton.
dylan.hernandez@latimes.com
