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LAD@SF: Kershaw stifles Giants to earn fifth shutout

With it being more than a year since Cubs right-hander Chris Volstad last got a win, manager Dale Sveum knows it's hard for him not to think about such a streak.

"It's not not in his head," Sveum said on Friday. "I think any human being will always be out there, 'Golly, I've got to do this,' and you start thinking, 'Man, I can't blow this because I have the lead, and I want this win.' Instead of just pitching, you're worrying about another entity that shouldn't be in your head, but I think it's only natural to be in your head."

Volstad hasn't been able to get that elusive victory in his last 20 outings, which dates to July 10, 2011, but he'll get that chance on Saturday against the Dodgers in Los Angeles.

While 11 of those starts were with the Marlins in 2011, nine of them have been with the Cubs this season, in which he's gone 0-7 with a 7.94 ERA.

However, run support has been an issue during many of Volstad's starts for Chicago this season, with the team scoring one run or fewer in six of his nine outings.

In 12 starts for Triple-A Iowa, the right-hander was 3-5 with a 5.17 ERA and threw eight shutout innings in his last start July 27 against Oklahoma City. That's a good sign for Chicago, which will likely have Volstad in the starting rotation for the rest of the season after Paul Maholm and Ryan Dempster were traded at the Deadline.

Meanwhile, left-hander Clayton Kershaw (8-6, 2.95 ERA) will take the hill for the Dodgers after his best start of the season.

Showing just why he is the Dodgers ace, Kershaw went out on Sunday against the Giants and held them to just five hits for his second shutout of the season and his first win against San Francisco this year.

While Kershaw's numbers may not be where they were last year during his National League Cy Young campaign, he's still been every bit as valuable to the Dodgers' staff this year.

"It's hard to match last year," Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said. "Kersh has thrown the ball really well. I think he's thrown the ball pretty much as good as he did last year. He doesn't have the same type of shutdown. There's been times he has given up a lead. Last year, everything kind of went right."

Cubs: Garza's next start uncertain
• Matt Garza's bullpen session was cut short on Friday, with the right-hander set to throw again on Saturday. However, it is uncertain when he will start.

"It felt like I thought I would feel," Garza said of Friday's workout. "I took three days off and didn't do anything. We'll come back and do it again tomorrow."

Garza came out of his last start after three innings with cramping in his right triceps. He could still be put on the disabled list, retroactive to July 22, which would allow the Cubs to call up a pitcher from Triple-A Iowa for Tuesday's game, likely Casey Coleman.

"It's pushing it," Sveum said about Garza getting back in the rotation on Tuesday for the first time since July 21. "That's still a wait-and-see thing on how he does and recovery."

Dodgers: Hanley gets first start at short
• After starting at third base for his first eight games with the Dodgers, Ramirez was penciled in as the starting shortstop Friday with Luis Cruz moving to third base.

Prior to this season, Ramirez played solely shortstop since coming into the Majors in 2005. However, he was moved to the hot corner when the Miami Marlins signed Jose Reyes.

"I've talked about it from the very beginning -- that's where I want Hanley to end up," Mattingly said. "Hanley at short gives me the freedom at third base to be able to use Jerry [Hairston], to be able to use Luis, to be able to use Juan [Uribe]."

Mattingly also added that the switch allows him to use Cruz at second base to give Mark Ellis a day off here and there.

Worth noting
• Dodgers reliever Scott Elbert, who is on the disabled list with left elbow inflammation, was scheduled to play catch Friday. Mattingly said the team is still hopeful Elbert will be out for only the originally expected two weeks and added he will find out in the next day or two how fast the reliever will be able to return from the DL.

• Class A Peoria shortstop Javier Baez and Triple-A Iowa left-handed pitcher Brooks Raley were named the Cubs' Minor League Player and Pitcher of the Month for July. Baez, 19, batted .368 with six doubles, three triples, seven home runs, 20 RBIs and 21 runs scored in 28 July games. Raley, 24, posted a 2.12 ERA in five July starts for Iowa, walking just 12 while striking out 28 and limiting opponents to a .254 batting average.

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