Defending Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw will most likely miss his scheduled start on Sunday due to the same hip issues that forced him to miss his start last Sunday against the San Francisco Giants. Even though Kershaw felt ok the day after his subsequent start this past Tuesday against the D-backs, he reportedly felt the same discomfort in his right hip on Friday that caused him to miss his start against the Giants.

Even though Kershaw lost 1-0 to the Diamondbacks last Tuesday, he pitched exceptionally well after having missed his scheduled start two days earlier for a nagging hip injury. That same injury may force him to miss this Sunday’s start as well. (Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

“This is how he felt two days before (last Sunday’s scheduled start) and by game day he felt he could pitch. We’ll just have to see,” said Dodgers manager Don Mattingly. When asked who he would start if Kershaw couldn’t go on Sunday, the ever-evasive Mattingly said “Right now Kershaw’s going.” The most likely candidate to replace Kershaw should he miss Sunday’s start is Stephen Fife, who was called back up to the Dodgers on September 11th to bolster the bullpen as a long reliever or a spot starter, as in this case. In three previous spot starts for the Dodgers this season, Fife pitched much better than his 0-1 record reflects with a 2.16 ERA and 7 strikeouts in his 16.2 innings of work.

While Kershaw’s status is unknown, struggling Dodgers center fielder Matt Kemp’s is not – he’s playing every day, in spite of going 5 for 40 (.125) with 9 strikeouts since September 1st. With scheduled days off for the next two Mondays, Mattingly said that he plans to keep Kemp in the line-up every day. “If we weren’t getting any days off and spent 15 or 16 in a row, ya, I’d be trying to give somebody a breather, but it’s that time of year… guys want to be out there and we’re trying to win games.” (Did I mention that Mattingly is ever-evasive?).

In spite of Matt Kemp’s continuing slump, Dodgers manager Don Mattingly plans to keep him in the line up for all 17 remaining games. (Photo credit – Luis Sinco)

In other health-related news, Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen received good news on Friday afternoon when he was told by doctors that he could resume play on Tuesday, September 18th when the Dodgers will be in Washington DC to take on the Nationals for a crucial 3-game series. Jansen, who has been sidelined since August 27th with his second bout with an irregular heartbeat, was taken off blood thinner medication after Friday night’s game and cleared to resume action on Tuesday. The 24-year-old Curaçao, Netherlands Antilles native will have an off-season procedure called cardiac ablation in which a small catheter is inserted into the heart to correct the irregular heartbeat. Until then, Jansen will take aspirin daily to help thin his blood without having to take the blood thinner medication which prevents him from participating in baseball activities when others are around him to avoid any possibility of being struck by a ball, which could be fatal while taking the medication.

Jansen was visibly excited with the news of his pending return to his team. “I’m ready. I’m not afraid. I can be in there. But it’s not my decision (to return to the closer role),” Jansen said. “If they want to give me the ball in the ninth, I’m ready to do it. I’m built for it. I will fight for it. I will do whatever to help this team, whether it’s the seventh, eighth, or ninth.”

Even when Jansen returns on Tuesday, Mattingly said that he won’t put him right back into the closer role. “Brandon (League) has thrown the ball really well. I’ll probably feel more comfortable if I get (Jansen) into the game without putting the whole game on him after being out a while. I’ll get (Jansen) out there one time, then go from there.”

Left-handed reliever Scott Elbert is also expected to return from the DL on Tuesday. Elbert, who has been sidelined since August 29th with a sore elbow, threw a simulated game on Friday and will do so again on Sunday. If all goes well, Mattingly said that Elbert would most likely be activated on Tuesday.

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Miscellany

• Even though Dee Gordon worked out at second base prior to Friday night’s game, the Dodgers have no immediate plans to convert the speedy shortstop to that position. “Dee’s wanting to take some grounders over there (but) we haven’t talked about Dee playing second (base) in any way, shape or form,” said Mattingly.

• Although originally drafted by the Dodgers as a situational reliever, 21-year-old lefty Paco Rodriguez will most likely be used as “…a one plus guy” (one inning and possibly part of the next inning depending on the match ups) as Mattingly put it.

• The Ogden Raptors lost the third and deciding game of the Pioneer League Championship on Friday night 10-0 to the powerful Missoula Osprey. It was the third consecutive championship loss for the Dodgers rookie league affiliate.