CHICAGO -- Never mind the heavy workload and short rest, Clayton Kershaw insisted he is ready to pitch again.The Los Angeles Dodgers ace will start Game 2 of the NL Championship Series against the Chicago Cubs on Sunday night after pitching in all three wins during the Division Series against Washington. That included a two-out save in the decisive Game 5 on Thursday night.The three-time NL Cy Young Award winner is 3-6 with a 4.79 ERA in 16 career playoff appearances, including 12 starts.Yeah, I feel fine, Kershaw said Saturday . I feel good. Im excited. Its been a little bit since we got to do this, and Wrigley Field, its going to be pretty exciting. The fans, everywhere you go, people are talking about it, so it will be fun tomorrow, for sure.Kyle Hendricks gets the ball for the Cubs in Game 2. The right-hander went 16-8 with a major league-best 2.13 ERA this season but left his Division Series start against San Francisco after taking a comebacker off his right forearm .Kershaw hasnt faced Chicago this year. The same was true for Game 1 starter Kenta Maeda and Rich Hill, who was acquired from Oakland on Aug. 1 and will open Game 3. Manager Dave Roberts said he has not decided who will start Game 4.Kershaw came out of bullpen to get the final two outs for his first major league save and close out the division series, two days after throwing 110 pitches in Game 4 on short rest. He is approaching this as a normal start with no limitations.Roberts called it a no-brainer to go with Kershaw once his ace told him he was feeling fine.Its just more of just getting assurance that he feels good physically, which he does, and so its one of those things, obviously, when you get a chance for Clayton to pitch Games 2 and potentially 6, thats a good thing for us, Roberts said. And, yeah, its full go.Kershaw figures to be challenged by a team that led the majors with 103 wins -- 12 more than Los Angeles. The Cubs were second in on-base percentage and third in runs scored during the regular season.Chicago took three of four from Los Angeles in a low-scoring series at Wrigley Field from May 30 to June 2, getting wins from Jon Lester and Hendricks. Los Angeles won two of three meetings at home in late August, dropping the opener 6-4 in 10 innings before winning the final two games 3-2 and 1-0.I think that theyre constantly working counts, getting into good hitters counts, getting on base, Kershaw said. And thats something that is difficult for a starting pitcher. You got to -- you want to limit the damage but at the same time you cant go for four innings, a hundred pitches. So you got to figure out how to get these guys out with quality pitches quickly. And its not an easy task. Milan Lucic Jersey . 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LOUIS -- Cardinals cleanup hitter Allen Craig says hes recovered from a foot injury and ready to be put on St. TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- Rashaan Evans reached around Kentucky quarterback Stephen Johnson and ripped the ball from his grasp.Alabama safety Ronnie Harrison scooped it up, juked one offensive player-turned-defender and raced 55 yards for yet another defensive touchdown for the top-ranked Crimson Tide, which then took control in Saturday nights 34-6 win.Big plays have become Alabamas calling card on special teams and defense.When you run to the ball and you have good energy defensively, thats when things happen, said defensive end Jonathan Allen, Alabamas sack leader. We pride ourselves on running to the ball, not having any loafs or mental errors or missed tackles, and its starting to come to fruition.Indeed, the Tide ranks in the Top 10 in scoring, rushing and total defense. Thats nothing out of the norm.Alabama players believe their defense stands out because of its aggressive opportunism. The Tides special teams and defense have accounted for 53 touchdowns in Nick Sabans nine-plus seasons including a high of 10 during last years national championship run.This ones on pace to blow past that number.The defense and special teams have accounted for nine TDs in the last seven games, dating back to the semifinal matchup with Michigan State. Alabama, which visits No. 16 Arkansas on Saturday night, has had at least one non-offensive TD in each game since.The scoring streak has become a source of pride for the Tide, whose other big streak is 17 wins in a row.We harp on it all the time, Harrison said. We try to get a score every game on defense. Were just waiting for someone to make a play.Its kind of a thing right now, weve got to get one on defense every game.Evans, a reserve linebacker, and Harrison supplied the llatest example.ddddddddddddThats what we work on -- trying to strip the ball out -- every day in practice, and that will be something that we can show the other players, Saban said. When you do it correctly, you have a chance to get the kind of consequences that you like and get the ball out.Linebacker Ryan Anderson had jarred the ball loose from Johnson earlier and recovered it himself. Evans had a simple take on his own big play.I was rushing and I just so happened to turn around and the quarterback was right there, the former five-star recruit said. I just tried to get the ball and thats what happened.Alabamas five defensive touchdowns and seven non-offensive TDs both lead the nation. Three of them came against Mississippi in the only game where the Tide was tested.Heres a breakdown of Alabamas touchdowns from defense and special teams in each game this season:-USC: Cornerback Marlon Humphrey returned an interception 18 yards.-Ole Miss: Safety/return man Eddie Jackson had an 85-yard punt return, defensive tackle DaRon Payne scored on a 3-yard fumble return and Allen returned another fumble 75 yards.-Western Kentucky: Jackson struck again, this time with a 55-yard interception return.-Kent State: Xavian Marks returned a punt 75 yards.-Kentucky: Harrison raced down the left sideline to give Alabama a 17-3 lead after juking one Wildcats player. And now his teammates can quit giving him grief.The guys on the team were messing with me like I was the only DB who hadnt scored a touchdown, so it was good to get one, he said.---APs college football website: www.collegefootball.ap.org ' ' '
