The Cubs didn't find out that they would be facing Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw in Game 2 of the National League Championship Series until late Saturday afternoon, but that didn't necessarily alter their planning.
"There's not any more work we can put into it, (and) there's not any special lineup we're going to create," manager Joe Maddon said shortly before Dodgers manager Dave Roberts confirmed Kershaw would start Sunday night.
The left-hander threw 110 pitches Tuesday and seven more for two outs Thursday to secure the NL Division Series over the Nationals.
Kershaw is 5-3 with a 2.18 ERA in eight lifetime starts against the Cubs, but the Cubs beat him 4-2 at Wrigley Field in 2015, with Kris Bryant and Matt Szczur hitting home runs off him. Szczur, however, is not on the Cubs' NLCS roster.
"Just like (Giants ace Madison) Bumgarner was looming in Game 3 (of the NLDS)," Maddon said. "There's nothing you can do about. You have to pitch better than good pitching normally. And we have that capability to do that. Whenever he's ready to pitch, we'll be ready to pitch against him."
Cy Young Award candidate Kyle Hendricks will start for the Cubs in Game 2.
"You make your best guess regarding the lineup and go play," Maddon said. "I don't get all bent out of (shape on) stuff like that. There's nothing you can do about it except play your game."
The Cubs will face Rich Hill, another left-hander, in Game 3 on Tuesday at Dodger Stadium.
Maddon hasn't decided whether right-handed hitters Jorge Soler and Willson Contreras will start against the left-handers, "but they're in play."
