In a bit of a no-brainer, Don Mattingly said on Saturday that Clayton Kershaw will get the ball for both the season opener in San Diego and the home opener against the Pirates. With a four-game set against the Padres and an off-day before coming home, it all works out.
It's a pretty easy decision, as a home opener featuring Aaron Harang or Chris Capuano just doesn't sound as juicy as Kersahw. It's what the fans want to see, and from a baseball standpoint, getting Kershaw as many starts as possible on normal rest should equal more wins. I mean, duh!
Anyway, the first time we'll see the #5 spot in the rotation making a start looks to be on Saturday, April 14 at home against the Padres in the season's ninth game. It's typical for the early part of a season, as there seem to be a few more random off days than later on.
In taking a glance even further down the road, Kershaw could very well make another start on normal rest in Houston on Friday, April 20. That would again cause the #5 spot to be skipped. So, the next start for the end of the rotation would then be on Tuesday, April 24 at home against the Braves.
All in all, if Mattingly chooses to keep starting Kershaw on normal rest and skip the #5 start all of the month of April, here's how the starts will go:
Kershaw (6): 4/5 at Padres, 4/10 vs. Pirates, 4/15 vs. Padres, 4/20 at Astros, 4/25 vs. Braves, 4/30 at Rockies
Harang or Capuano (2): 4/14 vs. Padres, 4/24 vs. Braves
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