If there were any doubts as to who the Dodgers number four starter should be for the upcoming postseason, there certainly shouldn’t be any longer.

For the fourth time in as many starts right-hander Dan Haren not only gave the Dodgers six innings or more, but he won three of the four with a no-decision in the other one (which he would have won with a little run support).

In his last four starts, Haren is 3-0 with a 0.69 ERA. During that time he has walked 3 and struck out 20 in 26 innings pitched. (Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

On Wednesday night Haren was nothing short of brilliant in the Dodgers 3-0 shutout of the San Diego Padres. Haren allowed no runs on four hits with one walk and four strikeouts in seven strong innings of work. But even these remarkable numbers don’t tell the full story.

In the fourth inning Haren pitched himself into a jam when Dodger killer Seth Smith reached first base on a throwing error by second baseman Justin Turner. Smith advanced to third on a double by Jedd Gyorko. With runners on second and third and no outs, even Haren expected the Padres to score a run.

“You kind of concede a run with no outs and get the first out,” Haren told reporters after the game.” And then once you get the first out you try to strike the next guy out. I finally got [Padres catcher Rene Rivera] in a count to do it and I was able to do it. And from there you got one out left and you can’t let your guard down at that point.”

Haren did get that third out when Padres center fielder Will Venable grounded out to second to end the inning without a run scoring. It was a pitching clinic at its best.

“It felt great after that inning,” added Haren. “I think the team got a little boost of energy too. Second and third [with] no outs you don’t expect no runs to score, so I think the team was pumped with that. I was too and I was able to keep it going.”

One thing is for certain, Haren has left an impression on the guy that matters most when it comes to deciding who makes the playoff roster and who does not – Dodgers manager Don Mattingly.

“I think Danny has pitched really like he pitched early in the season and this really has been more of his season than that little stretch in the middle,” said Mattingly. “He had three of four games where he struggled. Other than that he’s pretty much been like this. Again, Danny was getting the ball where he wanted so it looked like it had late life. He got out of a couple jams early.”

During “that little stretch in the middle,” there was a lot of talk about the Dodgers being foolish if they allow Haren’s 180-inning option to vest, which would guarantee Haren another year and another $10 million for the 2015 season. Now it seems that those who were the most vocal against the Dodgers allowing Haren’s option to vest are nowhere to be seen. Instead there are those who are now campaigning for Haren’s option to vest so that the Dodgers are guaranteed to have the soft spoken Southern California native in a Dodger uniform next season. After Wednesday night’s game Haren is at 169 innings – only 11 shy of 180 innings with (probably) three starts remaining.

Several weeks ago Haren said that he hasn’t given much thought to his option vesting. In fact, he hinted that he may retired at the end of this season. But one has to believe that with the tremendous success that Haren has enjoyed in his last four starts, he still has some gas left in the tank and could be a real bargain at $10 million.

Although Haren is still second in the MLB in home runs allowed with 25, he hasn’t allowed a home run in his last 25 innings.

“My stuff has been better, especially my off-speed stuff, my split has gotten better,” said Haren. “I rely more on my curveball. My cutter was getting smashed by righties this year so I’ve gone more fastball, curveball, split and I’ve made a conscious effort to pitch in to righties, which is something that I haven’t been comfortable with in the past. A.J. [Ellis] wanted me to pitch in tonight to a few righties that were in there.”

While much of the playoff roster is still uncertain, Dodger fans have to feel comfortable in knowing that the starting rotation for the postseason now seems to be pretty much set – and that’s a very good thing.