Dodgers News: Hyun-Jin Ryu Officially Named Game 3 Starter

[new_royalslider id=”14″] Many expected left hander Hyun-Jin Ryu to start Game 3 of the NLDS for the Los Angeles Dodgers as he seems to have recovered from the irritation in his shoulder that caused him to miss just over three weeks.

Though it was expected, it was not yet set in stone as Ryu threw a simulated game on Wednesday and manager Don Mattingly would have to see how he felt the next day. If Ryu could not go, then Dan Haren would have been moved to the third game and the fourth game would be unknown.

Fortunately, the Dodgers won’t have to worry about any of that according to the Dodgers official Twitter account:

Hyun-Jin Ryu will start game three for the Dodgers. Clayton Kershaw game one, Zack Greinke game two.

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) October 2, 2014

Ryu will get the ball in the third game of the series and the first in St. Louis. Last season, Ryu pitched Game 3 of the NLCS against the Cardinals and threw seven shutout innings in a Dodger victory. Mattingly can only hope for more of the same from his second-year starter.

Mattingly also discussed Ryu’s limits for Monday’s start via J.P. Hoornstra of the LA Daily News:

Mattingly thinks Ryu can throw 100-110 pitches in Game 3.

— J.P. Hoornstra (@jphoornstra) October 2, 2014

With no real limits, the Dodgers will hope Ryu can be the pitcher he was before the injury. This year, the 27-year-old went 14-7 with a 3.38 ERA and is a major factor in whether the Dodgers are a World Series contender. Earlier this season, Ryu went seven innings and allowed three runs against the Cardinals in a loss.

Dan Haren is now set for Game 4, if necessary, although Mattingly could go with Clayton Kershaw on short rest much like he did in last year’s NLDS.