3 things to watch for in L.A. Dodgers-Atlanta Braves Game 7

2. Will Clayton Kershaw get a chance out of the Dodgers bullpen?

Clayton Kershaw walked off the mound in Game 4 following another disappointing postseason start just hoping he would get a chance to redeem himself in this series. His teammates gave him that wish.

Kershaw will likely be ready to pitch out of the bullpen in Game 7 for however long the Dodgers need him. It’s a role he’s been in before. He pitched four shutout innings in relief in Game 7 of the 2017 World Series in a losing effort against the Astros. The following year, he closed out Game 7 of the NLCS with a perfect inning against the Brewers.

Kershaw didn’t get a start against the Braves until Game 4 after being scratched from Game 2 due to back spasms. He was cruising through his first five innings, giving up only four hits and one inning. But then he was struck by his familiar postseason nemesis, the big inning. He gave up back-to-back doubles to Freddie Freeman and Marcell Ozuna as the Braves scored six runs in the inning on their way toward taking a 3-1 series lead.

The struggles in October for the three-time Cy Young Award winner and the best pitcher of this generation are dumbfounding. Among 29 pitchers with at least 100 postseason innings, Kershaw ranks last with a 4.31 ERA, nearly two runs higher than in the regular season. If Gonsolin (or whoever manager Dave Roberts sends out to start) keeps the Dodgers in Game 7, Kershaw can vanquish those playoff ghosts by coming in out of the bullpen.

The Braves will have all hands on deck in Game 7. Starter Max Fried pitched into the seventh in Game 6 on Saturday despite giving up three runs in the first inning, allowing the Braves to rest relievers Tyler Matzek, Shane Greene, Will Smith and Mark Melancon. Huascar Ynoa would have two days to rest after four shutout innings in Game 3.