LOS ANGELES — As pitching matchups go [url=http://www.raysfanproshop.com/authentic-mallex-smith-jersey]Mallex Smith Jersey[/url] , it would be hard to tilt the scales any more in one direction than they will be when the San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers meet Saturday evening in Los Angeles.The Padres will go with right-hander Brett Kennedy and his three career starts. The Dodgers will counter with Clayton Kershaw and his three Cy Young Awards.Kennedy (0-2, 8.36 ERA) has yet to win his first major league game, although he finally looks to be getting comfortable with his surroundings. After getting crushed for a combined 11 runs on 20 hits over his first two big league starts, Kennedy held the Arizona Diamondbacks to two runs on six hits over five innings Sunday.Article continues below ...Without a blazing fastball to work with, Kennedy has to rely on pinpoint control. Even though he was better in his start against the Diamondbacks, he did issue three walks. He will now face a Dodgers team that typically is disciplined when it comes to the strike zone.“He definitely threw the ball better; I thought his secondary stuff was better last time out,” Padres manager Andy Green said about Kennedy. “(The Dodgers) team will be a real challenge for him. They will load (the lineup) down with lefties and he’s going to have to execute to pitch well against them. I look forward to him rising up to meet that challenge, but it takes a while for some guys to get their footing in the big leagues and he’s starting to find it.”Pitching opposite Kershaw could present an intimidation factor, although Kennedy already has dealt with pitching against an ace. Zack Greinke was the Diamondbacks’ pitcher when Kennedy last took the mound.Meeting Kershaw at Dodger Stadium, though, is a different level entirely. And Kershaw (6-5 [url=http://www.raysfanproshop.com/authentic-blake-snell-jersey]http://www.raysfanproshop.com/authentic-blake-snell-jersey[/url] , 2.40) has been as good as ever lately, going unbeaten over his last five starts with a 1.82 ERA over 34 2/3 innings in that stretch.Kershaw last lost a game on July 21, and even then he gave up just one earned run. The defense let him down to the tune of three unearned runs that day against the Brewers. Since June 23, when Kershaw returned from his second stint on the disabled list, he is 5-1 with a 2.14 ERA.Add to the mix an increased sense of urgency from Kershaw and the Padres figure to be in a tough spot Saturday.“I don’t know how many games we’ve got left, but it’s now or never,” Kershaw said, according to mlb.com. “We better start playing, we better get good.”Kershaw is 18-6 with a 1.89 ERA in 33 career starts against San Diego, and he pitched six scoreless innings in his only start against the Padres this season.The Dodgers’ inconsistent offense roared back to life Friday in an 11-1 victory over the Padres, with Chris Taylor [url=http://www.raysfanproshop.com/authentic-rob-refsnyder-jersey]Rob Refsnyder Jersey[/url] , Justin Turner and Max Muncy hitting home runs. Muncy moved one home run away from No. 30 on the season.The victory helped the Dodgers gain a game on the first-place Arizona Diamondbacks as they moved 3 1/2 games out of the division’s top spot. The Dodgers also moved 2 1/2 games behind the second-place Colorado Rockies. Ezra Shaw/Getty ImagesThe Boston Red Sox can clinch their fourth World Series title since 2004 Sunday night at Dodger Stadium.Boston holds a 3-1 series lead over the Los Angeles Dodgers after its come-from-behind victory in Game 4.Given the way the series has played out, Game 5 should produce a new set of unexpected twists, with the first being David Price earning the startinstead of Chris Sale for the Red Sox.Clayton Kershaw will oppose Price and is looking to deliver the third straight quality start by a Los Angeles starter and send the series back to Boston. Game 5 InformationStart Time:8:15 p.m. ETTV:FoxLive Stream:Fox Sports app or Fox Sports Go How Can Dodgers Rebound from Brutal Loss?The final three innings of Game 4 were littered with bad decisions by Dodgers manager Dave Roberts.Sean M. Haffey/Getty ImagesThe downward spiral began when Roberts removed starter Rich Hill after he struck out Eduardo Nunez for the first out of the seventh.Hill, who allowed one hit and one earned run while striking out seven batters, was at 91 pitches and could have continued, but Roberts opted to go to his bullpen.Scott Alexander, who replaced Hill, walked Xander Bogaerts, and Ryan Madson gave up the three-run home run to Mitch Moreland that ignited the Boston comeback.Roberts' decision to pull Hill looked even worse in the eighth and ninth innings, as Kenley Jansen gave up the game-winning home run and the combination of Dylan Floro, Alex Wood and Kenta Maeda struggled.Because of Roberts' poor decision-making [url=http://www.raysfanproshop.com/authentic-brad-miller-jersey]http://www.raysfanproshop.com/authentic-brad-miller-jersey[/url] , the Dodgers lost all of the momentum they gained from the 18-inning win in Game 3 and face a must-win game Sunday.The good news for Los Angeles entering Game 5 is Kershaw hasgiven up one earned run in his two victorious home starts during the 2018 postseason.If Kershaw produces similar numbers as Walker Buehler in Game 3 and Hill in Game 4, the Dodgers will have an opportunity to win the game.Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty ImagesHowever, Roberts could be the difference between winning and losing once again as he attempts to put together the best lineup possible against Boston's left-handed starter David Price.In Game 2 against Price, Roberts started all of his right-handed batters, but the Dodgers manager called on his left-handed bats once the Boston starter departed the mound.If Roberts employs the same strategy in Game 5, he'll rely on Max Muncy, Joc Pederson, Cody Bellinger and Yasmani Grandal to come up with clutch hits in one or two at-bats.The one player Roberts shouldn't worry about is Yasiel Puig, who rocked a three-run home run off left-handed pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez in Game 4.If Puig, who has a .250 batting average against left-handed pitching compared to a .290 clip versus right-handed pitchers, finds success against Price [url=http://www.raysfanproshop.com/authentic-joey-wendle-jersey]Joey Wendle Jersey[/url] , the Dodgers should get out to an early lead.Red Sox Taking Risk by Starting PriceUp until Saturday night, Sale was expected to be the Game 5 starter for the Red Sox, but Cora unveiled Price as the man for the job after the Game 4 victory.As much as the Red Sox would love to close out the series at Dodger Stadium with Sale on the hill, Cora is making the right decision by going with Price.By opting for Price in Game 5, Cora will be able to call on a fresh Sale to start Game 6 at home if the series gets to that point or go to his ace in the eighth or ninth inning to close out the series Sunday.Ezra Shaw/Getty ImagesIt is a risk worth taking because of Price's new-found success as a starter in the postseason.In his past two playoff starts, Price gave up two earned runs on six hits while striking out 14 batters in a pair of six-inning outings.If Price turns in a similar outing in Game 5, the Red Sox should be in position to go to their bullpen to close out the championship.However, Price isn't completely fresh. He tossed 0.2 innings in relief in Game 3 and warmed up in the bullpen at the end of Game 4.With only two true days of rest under his belt, Price could struggle early and force Cora to use his already-extended bullpen as early as the third or fourth inning to limit the runs produced by the home side.Follow Joe on Twitter, JTansey90.