LHP Clayton Kershaw, who tied for the major league lead with 18 wins and led the NL with a 2.31 ERA, is vying for his fourth NL Cy Young Award. His competitors are Nationals RHPs Max Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg.

LHP Clayton Kershaw came on in relief in the third inning marking just his fifth relief appearance in 24 postseason games. Counting the regular season, Kershaw has pitched in relief just seven times in 318 games. He gave up two hits but no runs over four innings.

Dodgers LHP Clayton Kershaw struck out 11 batters in Game 1 on Tuesday, the fifth time he has reached double digits in strikeouts in a playoff game during his career. He was one strikeout shy of his single-game playoff record. The 11 strikeouts are fifth most for a pitcher in a World Series debut.

LHP Clayton Kershaw allowed just one run on three hits over six innings to earn his sixth postseason victory. The victory moved Kershaw into a tie with Burt Hooton for the most postseason victories in franchise history. Before Thursday's stellar showing, Kershaw already held the Dodgers' postseason records for starts, innings pitched, strikeouts and losses. Kershaw may be in line to start Game 1 of the World Series against either the New York Yankees or Houston Astros.

LHP Clayton Kershaw saw his night come to an end after five innings in Game 1 of the NLCS, throwing 87 pitches in the process. He gave up two runs on four hits with a walk and four strikeouts. It was actually his third postseason start in the last two years that lasted only five innings. Two of those have come against the Cubs, including the deciding game in the NLCS last year.

CLEVELAND -- Yan Gomes' single in the bottom of the 13th inning lifted the Cleveland Indians to a wild 9-8 victory over the New York Yankees in Game 2 of the American League Division Series on Friday.Austin Jackson led off the bottom of the 13th by drawing a walk from Dellin Betances (0-1), and then stealing second base. Gomes then worked the count to 3-2, and hit a hard chopper down the third base line that eluded diving third baseman Ronald Torreyes. The ball rolled down the left field line as Jackson raced home with the winning run.Josh Tomlin (1-0), the last of eight Cleveland pitchers, pitched two scoreless innings to get the win.Francisco Lindor hit a grand slam off Chad Green in the sixth and Jay Bruce hit a game-tying homer off David Robertson in the eighth as the Indians rallied from an 8-3 deficit.Gary Sanchez, Aaron Hicks and Greg Bird homered for the Yankees before Lindor and Bruce forced extra innings.Cleveland ace Corey Kluber allowed six runs in 2 2/3 innings. New York's... [More]

LHP Clayton Kershaw got the victory in the Dodgers' 9-5 win over the Diamondbacks in Game 1 of the NLDS Friday night at Dodger Stadium. Kershaw gave up just five hits in 6 1/3 innings, but four of the hits were solo home runs. CF A.J. Pollock homered in the third inning and RF J.D. Martinez homered in the sixth. But when SS Ketel Marte and C Jeff Mathis each connected off Kershaw in the seventh, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts came out with the hook. "I felt fine, it just wasn't coming out as good as I would have liked it to that last inning," Kershaw said. "They hit some good pitches, no, not really, I just didn't have much left. When you give up hits, you hope maybe one or two stay in the ballpark but tonight it didn't seem like that was going to happen. Obviously a frustrating way to end it but thankfully we had a big lead." The four homers were the most by a Dodgers pitcher in franchise history in a postseason game.

There may not be two American League players who differ more standing side-by-side than the Houston Astros' Jose Altuve and the New York Yankees' Aaron Judge.Altuve is a diminutive 5-foot-6. Judge is a giant at 6-7. But when it comes to the AL Most Valuable Player Award, the difference could be measured in angstroms.The members of the Baseball Writers' Association of America are sending in their votes right now for all of the major 2017 awards. There are some that will be, or should be, unanimous picks.How do you not give Judge the AL Rookie of the Year? Same goes in the National League for Cody Bellinger of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Both were by far at the top of their classes when all was said and done.Below is our take on the deserving winners in each race. AL MVP isn't the only white-knuckler. In the AL, the Cy Young Award race between Boston's Chris Sale and Cleveland's Corey Kluber is tight, too. In the National League, the MVP, Cy Young and Manager of the Year are all worthy of great... [More]

LHP Clayton Kershaw gave up seven hits and three runs in four innings and threw 57 pitches, 41 strikes, in a tuneup for his start Friday in Game 1 of the Division Series. He finished the regular season 18-4 with a 2.37 ERA and has lowered his ERA in each of his nine seasons. In six starts this season against the Rockies, Kershaw went 3-2 with a 4.00 ERA.

LHP Clayton Kershaw will start Saturday against Colorado. It likely will be an abbreviated start with a modest pitch count with the Dodgers on the eve of the postseason.

LHP Clayton Kershaw pitched eight sharp innings for his 18th win of the season Sunday, and it may be his last regular season appearance. He would be scheduled to start Friday if the Dodgers stuck to their usual rotation, but manager Dave Roberts said no decision has been made on Kershaw, Yu Darvish and Alex Wood starting any games in the Rockies series.

MILWAUKEE -- Jose Quintana struck out 10 in a three-hitter game as the Chicago Cubs moved closer to clinching the National League Central by beating the Milwaukee Brewers 5-0 on Sunday.Ben Zobrist hit a two-run homer for the defending World Series champions, who have a magic number of two to clinch.Milwaukee starter Chase Anderson allowed three runs on seven hits in 6 1/3 innings.Diamondbacks 3, Marlins 2PHOENIX -- J.D. Martinez singled with two outs in the ninth inning and Arizona edged Miami to clinch its first playoff spot since 2011.Chris Herrmann homered for Arizona, which holds the first National League wild-card spot.Giancarlo Stanton increased his RBI total to 126, moving into a tie with Colorado's Nolan Arenado for the major league lead.Angels 7, Astros 5HOUSTON -- Brandon Phillips and Justin Upton homered and drove in two runs apiece, and Luis Valbuena also had two RBIs in Los Angeles win over Houston.The Angels remain 4 1/2 games behind the Minnesota Twins for the second American... [More]

LHP Clayton Kershaw reached 200 strikeouts for the seventh time in his 10-year career, the first Dodgers pitcher to accomplish that feat. Kershaw struck out six in eight innings against the San Francisco Giants on Sunday and earned his 18th win of the season in the 3-1 victory. He is tied for the major league lead in wins.

MILWAUKEE -- Jose Quintana struck out 10 in a three-hitter game as the Chicago Cubs moved closer to clinching the National League Central by beating the Milwaukee Brewers 5-0 on Sunday.Ben Zobrist hit a two-run homer for the defending World Series champions, who have a magic number of two to clinch.Milwaukee starter Chase Anderson allowed three runs on seven hits in 6 1/3 innings.Diamondbacks 3, Marlins 2PHOENIX -- J.D. Martinez singled with two outs in the ninth inning and Arizona edged Miami to clinch its first playoff spot since 2011.Chris Herrmann homered for Arizona, which holds the first National League wild-card spot.Giancarlo Stanton increased his RBI total to 126, moving into a tie with Colorado's Nolan Arenado for the major league lead.Angels 7, Astros 5HOUSTON -- Brandon Phillips and Justin Upton homered and drove in two runs apiece, and Luis Valbuena also had two RBIs in Los Angeles win over Houston.The Angels remain 4 1/2 games behind the Minnesota Twins for the second American... [More]

MILWAUKEE -- Jose Quintana struck out 10 in a three-hitter game as the Chicago Cubs moved closer to clinching the National League Central Division by beating the Milwaukee Brewers 5-0 on Sunday.Ben Zobrist hit a two-run homer for the defending World Series champions, who have a magic number of two to clinch.Milwaukee starter Chase Anderson allowed three runs on seven hits in 6 1/3 innings. Twins 10, Tigers 4DETROIT -- Eduardo Escobar hit a three-run homer and drove in four runs as Minnesota rolled over Detroit. Jorge Polanco also homered and Joe Mauer drove in two runs as Minnesota moved to within four games behind the New York Yankees for the first wild card spot.Ian Kinsler hit a two-run homer for Detroit, which dropped its seventh straight. Red Sox 5, Reds 4 CINCINNATI -- Mookie Betts hit a three-run double in the eighth inning and scored on a single by Rafael Devers as Boston beat Cincinnati.Betts helped the Red Sox lower their magic number for clinching the American League East to... [More]

LHP Clayton Kershaw looked every bit the perennial Cy Young Award candidate for much of Monday night's game. However, a few mistakes turned a potential win into a loss. Kershaw took a 2-0 lead into the sixth inning but unraveled, eventually allowing his first career grand slam in an eventual 4-3 loss in Philadelphia. Kershaw surrendered four hits and struck out six over six innings.

LHP Clayton Kershaw (17-3, 2.12 ERA) is slated to pitch Monday in Philadelphia. "His routine is locked in," new Dodgers LHP Tony Watson said of Kershaw. "You always hear about starting pitchers, that they do the same thing and (are) regimented. He is probably the best I seen at that. Every day has a plan, and he attacks the plan. Everything is done with a purpose. He is one of the most prepared guys I have seen. The four days he is not pitching, he is on the top steps of the dugout (cheering). He is a great teammate. He always has advice. That is pretty special, I think."

LHP Clayton Kershaw ran his career record against the San Francisco Giants to 21-9 in Tuesday's 5-3 victory. He had six strikeouts in the win, giving him 301 in his career against the Giants. Only two other active major-leaguers -- RHP Justin Verlander (341 against the Cleveland Indians) and RHP Felix Hernandez (334 against the Los Angeles Angels) -- have recorded 300 or more strikeouts against a single opponent.

LHP Clayton Kershaw became a 20-game winner in his career against the San Francisco Giants when he faced them at AT&T Park in May. On Tuesday night, he will seek to become a 300-strikeout pitcher against them when he duels the Giants for the 40th time in his career. Kershaw has gone 20-9 with a 1.62 ERA in 38 career starts against the Northern California rival, striking out 295 in 283 1/3 innings.

LHP Clayton Kershaw officially was named the starter for Tuesday's game at San Francisco. Kershaw was a possibility for Wednesday's game as the Dodgers have been operating with six starters of late. But with LHP Hyun-Jin Ryu getting skipped this time around, Kershaw will now pitch Tuesday. Kershaw has made two starts since coming off the disabled list because of a back issue, tossing six scoreless innings at San Diego on Sept. 1 and giving up four runs in just 3 2/3 innings Thursday in a loss to Colorado.