What came as a surprise to absolutely no one, the Dodgers officially named defending 2014 NL MVP and Cy Young award-winner Clayton Kershaw to start Game-1 of the National League Division Series on Friday, October 9 at Dodger Stadium, with first pitch scheduled for 6:45 pm PT.

Although there was little doubt that Kershaw would get the Game-1 nod, the official announcement didn’t come until well after the Dodgers finished their first day of workouts on Tuesday morning and early afternoon. However, the first clue that it was going to be Kershaw came much earlier when he was observed throwing a bullpen session as the media was arriving for the team’s first postseason workout – this in spite of Dodgers manager Don Mattingly’s coyness when asked specifically about it.

“We’ll probably announce [the rotation] this afternoon. We’ve got one more round of meetings again as far as the roster is concerned,” Mattingly said. “I’d say by the afternoon [Dodgers PR Director] Joe [Jareck] should be able to put it out about our rotation going forward.”

That announcement did, in fact, come out later that afternoon when the Dodgers posted it on Twitter shortly after 4 pm PT.

Kershaw faced the Mets twice during the regular season with a no-decision on July 3 when Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen was unable to hold a 1-1 tie in the top of the ninth inning in the eventual 2-1 Dodgers loss. However, in his second outing against the Mets three weeks later on July 23 at Citi Field, the 27-year-old Dallas, TX native took a perfect game into the seventh inning. Although Kershaw lost his bid for perfection and his no-hitter, he pitched a complete game, 3-0 shutout allowing only three hits, no walks while striking out 11. In his two games against the Mets this season, Kershaw allowed only one run on eight hits while walking one and striking out 16 in his 16 innings of work for a phenomenal 0.56 ERA.

Kershaw had Dodgers and Mets fans on the edge of their seats when he took a perfect game into the bottom of the seventh inning on July 23 at Citi Field. (Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

While it has long been expected that Kershaw and right-hander Zack Greinke would start Games 1 and 2 respectively, it was the Game-3 starter that created the need for that additional round of meetings. But even this doubt began to fade on Tuesday afternoon when left-hander Brett Anderson pitched a three-inning – 56-pitch simulated game, facing Yasiel Puig, Joc Pederson, Justin Ruggiano, Alex Guerrero and Chris Heisey, who themselves are auditioning for a spot on the Dodgers 25-man NLDS roster.

After his three-inning simulated game on Tuesday, Dodgers left-hander Brett Anderson was named the NLDS Game-3 starter, which will take place on Monday, October 12 in New York.
(Photo credit – Jon SooHoo)

Someone who (probably) won’t be on the postseason roster – at least in the first round – is utility outfielder/first baseman Scott Van Slyke, who is still dealing with a right wrist issue. Van Slyke was noticeably missing from live batting practice on Tuesday but according to Mattingly hit earlier in the indoor batting cage.

“Not doing as good as I’d like today,” Mattingly said of Van Slyke. “He got to working and felt better but still has some restrictions, so that kind of helped us answer some questions. It didn’t go as well as I’d like. It’s better than where he was, but still not where we need to be.”

As for the rest of his team, Mattingly says that everyone else is completely healthy – stay for one other guy.

“I think we’re a hundred percent with our guys. I don’t think… we’re not going to have anybody, other than Scott’s dinged up and Yasiel will be… is part of the roster – he’s coming off injuries,” Mattingly said. “But other than that… I mean, I feel that JT (Justin Turner) and Gonz (Adrian Gonzalez), this four days [off] is going to get them to a hundred percent and we’ll see. I think we’re ready to go, there’ll be no restrictions on guys or anything like that.”

Although Mattingly wouldn’t come right out and say so, that other guy – Yasiel Puig – definitely saw his chances of making the postseason roster improve significantly with Van Slyke more than likely out for the Division Series. On the season Van Slyke hit only .239 with six home runs and Puig .255 with 11 home runs.

The one area where Mattingly feels better heading into this postseason than last year’s is with his oft-criticized bullpen.

“I feel more comfortable this year than last with the guys with the way they’re throwing the ball right now – a little bit more structured as far as knowing kind of where we’re going,” said Mattingly. “So I think overall depth and quality of arms this year are better than last.”

Dodgers right-hander Joel Peralta also threw a simulated game on Tuesday, although his was only one inning. Like Anderson, the 39-year-old Bonao, Dominican Republic native has, in all likelihood, secured a spot on Mattingly’s postseason roster. (Photo credit – Jon SooHoo)

As for where the Dodgers go from here, Mattingly said that his team will have a full workout on Wednesday morning followed by another batting practice session on Thursday – after which it’s Game On on Friday evening.