Baseball Daily Dose: Dose: Classic Clayton

Follow @drewsilv and @Rotoworld_BB on Twitter.

Hats off to the 2015 National League West-champion Los Angeles Dodgers.

They wrapped up their third consecutive division title in fitting fashion on Tuesday night in San Francisco, dominating the host Giants 8-0 with ace left-hander Clayton Kershaw allowing just a hit and a walk over nine shutout innings. Kershaw struck out 13 and now boasts 294 total strikeouts over 229 innings this season.

He’ll probably make an abbreviated start this weekend against the Padres to stay properly tuned for the National League Division Series. It’ll be a best-of-five matchup with the Mets, who clinched the National League East on Saturday. Kershaw vs. Jacob deGrom in Game 1. Get your popcorn ready.

Kershaw’s gem on Tuesday thrusts him back into the ongoing National League Cy Young Award conversation. His rotation mate Zack Greinke has been the lead horse for the much of the summer, but Jake Arrieta is banging a loud drum in the second half and Kershaw’s numbers stack up alongside both of them. If not slightly ahead.

Kershaw, after Tuesday: 2.16 ERA, 0.89 WHIP, 294 strikeouts in 229 innings.

Greinke: 1.68 ERA, 0.85 WHIP, 192 strikeouts in 214 2/3 innings.

Arrieta: 1.82 ERA, 0.88 WHIP, 229 strikeouts in 223 innings.

It’s going to be a tough one for voters of that award.

They’ve all been fantasy aces, that’s for certain.

Editor’s Note: Play one-day fantasy baseball for cash! FanDuel is hosting a $100,000 league for Wednesday’s MLB games. It’s just $5 to join and first place wins $10,000. Starts tonight at 7:05pm ET. Enter now!

Smith Suddenly In Line For Saves

Some great news here for fantasy owners who were trying to figure out the Anaheim bullpen depth chart after Huston Street (groin) went down and opted to grab injured setup man Joe Smith.

Smith threw a bullpen session and performed fielding drills on Tuesday without experiencing any lingering discomfort in his previously-sprained left ankle. He is expected to be available out of the Angels’ bullpen Wednesday, and manager Mike Scioscia said Smith could be an option for saves right away.

Scioscia has been using a committee in the ninth inning since Street’s injury. Mike Morin earned a save Sunday against the Mariners and 23-year-old rookie Trevor Gott has moved into a more prominent role. Those aren’t the most enticing final-week options for desperate save-seekers.

Smith, 31, holds a 2.68 ERA in 137 2/3 innings since joining the Halos ahead of the 2014 season.

Fish Decide To Shut Down Stanton

Marlins interim manager Dan Jennings announced Tuesday that Giancarlo Stanton has officially been shut down for the remainder of the 2015 season. Stanton has run into some minor complications in his recovery from hamate bone surgery and the Marlins have no reason to force the issue with just five games left against non-contenders Tampa Bay and Philadelphia.

Stanton should be 100 percent healthy when spring training begins next February and he’ll again be a consensus first-round pick despite appearing in only 74 games this season. In those 74 games, Stanton tallied 27 home runs and 67 RBI, along with a career-best .952 OPS.

There’s talk of adjustments being made to the dimensions at Marlins Park this winter. Giddy up.

National League Quick Hits: Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman (wrist) will be day-to-day the rest of the way … Maikel Franco (wrist) will rejoin the Phillies on Thursday and be available through the final weekend … Reds third baseman Todd Frazier could be done for the season after suffering a strain of his right Achilles tendon on Tuesday night … Stephen Piscotty was diagnosed with a slight concussion after his nasty collision Monday with Peter Bourjos, but the rookie outfielder could return before the end of the regular season … Nationals first baseman Ryan Zimmerman (oblique) will not return this year … A.J. Pierzynski finished 3-for-3 with two home runs as the Braves topped the Nationals on Tuesday … Mets starter Steven Matz got bumped from Wednesday to Thursday after waking up Tuesday with stiffness in his right side … Lucas Duda went yard twice in the Mets’ loss to the Phillies on Tuesday … Nationals third baseman Yunel Escobar is day-to-day with upper back discomfort … Dan Haren threw 7 1/3 innings of scoreless ball as the Cubs bested the Reds … Mets GM Sandy Alderson indicated Tuesday that Matt Harvey will only pitch once in the NLDS … Adam Wainwright (heel) will be activated from the 60-day disabled list on Wednesday and pitch out of the Cardinals’ bullpen through October … Michael Taylor was held out of the Nationals’ lineup Tuesday due to lingering knee discomfort … Jean Segura went 2-for-4 with an RBI double and a two-run home run, helping the Brewers edge the Padres on Tuesday … Diamondbacks shortstop Nick Ahmed is not expected to play again this season due to a back injury … Adonis Garcia was scratched from the Braves’ starting lineup Tuesday due to a stiff neck … Carlos Gonzalez hit his 40th home run of the season in the Rockies’ loss to the Diamondbacks on Tuesday … Matt Kemp left Tuesday’s game against the Brewers with right hand soreness.

American League Quick Hits: Astros center fielder Carlos Gomez (intercostal) still feels discomfort when he tries to swing … Michael Brantley (shoulder) could be shut down for the remainder of the season … Rays closer Brad Boxberger earned his 39th save of the season Tuesday night against the Marlins … Greg Holland will undergo Tommy John reconstructive elbow surgery on Friday … Troy Tulowitzki (shoulder) is expected to return to the Blue Jays’ lineup by this weekend … White Sox starter Jeff Samardzija held the Royals to two runs over seven innings to earn his 11th win on Tuesday … Blake Swihart homered twice and plated five runs as the Red Sox defeated the Yankees on Tuesday … Adam Eaton went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run to help the White Sox trump the Royals on Tuesday … Red Sox outfielder Rusney Castillo remains day-to-day with a slight quad strain … Asdrubal Cabrera hit a tie-breaking home run late to push the Rays past the Marlins on Tuesday … Victor Martinez was held out of the Tigers’ lineup Tuesday with discomfort in his left quad … Rangers closer Shawn Tolleson picked up his 34th save of the season Tuesday night against the Tigers … Rays catcher Curt Casali (hamstring) might play a few more games this year … Phil Hughes (illness) played catch Tuesday and could be available in long relief on Wednesday … Mariners starter James Paxton (finger) has officially been shut down for the rest of the season … Tigers third baseman Nick Castellanos left Tuesday’s game against the Rangers with a right index finger contusion … Robinson Cano homered and tallied three RBI in the Mariners’ defeat of the Astros on Tuesday … A’s left-hander Drew Pomeranz has been shut down for the season with an AC joint issue in his throwing shoulder.

This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service – if this is your content and you’re reading it on someone else’s site, please read the FAQ at fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php#publishers.