September 24th, 2014 at 6:00 am 
by Ron Cervenka If you were a Hollywood screenwriter you couldn’t write a better story. Not only is the Dodgers magic number to clinch their second consecutive NL West title down to one, they will have the best pitcher on the planet going for them on Wednesday night in Clayton Kershaw.
It is a match-up that was crafted by Dodgers manager Don Mattingly and pitching coach Rick Honeycutt more than two weeks ago – having their top three starters face a potent Giants team. But things went awry when Dodgers left-hander Hyun-jin Ryu went on the disabled list after lasting only one inning against the Giants on September 12 at AT&T Park. Although Ryu suffered the 9-0 loss, Greinke and Kershaw came right back and won the next two games by scores of 17-0 and 4-2.
Granted, any team can beat any other team on any given day, but you’ve got to like the Dodgers chances of clinching on Wednesday night in front of their home fans.
You can bet the the Giants, who seem to be showing a lot less class of late – especially to members of their own media, probably didn’t sleep well last night knowing that their chances of winning the West are all but over. That being said, the Dodgers would be foolish to think that the Giants will simply roll over and die regardless of who is on the mound.
“I don’t think about that. We’re going to try to win tomorrow and see what happens,” said Giants manager Bruce Bochy about making the postseason.
The feeling in Dodgers camp is a lot more confident.
“It was a blast,” said Dodgers utility infielder Justin Turner, who slugged two home runs in Tuesday night’s 4-2 win over the Giants. “I was floating around on those bases, and the fans were going nuts. They were awesome tonight, and they were awesome last night, and I know they’re going to be even louder tomorrow, and hopefully, we can get it done tomorrow night.”
Justin Turner’s first inning home run seemed to rattle Giants ace Madison Bumgarner. But it was Turner’s second home run of the night in the eighth inning that may have taken the wind out of the Giants sail as they prepare to face Clayton Kershaw later tonight.
(Video capture courtesy of SportsNet LA)
It seems only fitting that the stars are aligned just right when the best pitcher on the planet takes the mound on Wednesday night.
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Huge win against a pitcher that Dodger fans should love to beat with the ongoing back-and-forth with Puig (who was totally right to be upset, not for the pitch which did not appear to be intentional as much as the very classy words Bumgarner said to him right afterwards). Here’s hoping that I am celebrating late tonight in CST with Kershaw on the mound.
You can never underestimate San Francisco and their ability to get hot in the playoffs but it appears more and more likely that San Francisco will have to go to Pittsburgh for the wild card game. Even if they survive Pittsburgh, Washington is looking great right now. Good luck to you my friends!
Any Storybook Finish for the Dodgers, this season, must culminate in a 2014 World Series trophy. Anything else is just not acceptable.
It would be good for Kershaw to be the winning pitcher for a division clincher. Like putting the icing on the cake.
Happy Kershaw day
And they lived happily ever after.