I have no idea and it sounds stupid but maybe because he'd rather have his best pitcher pitching at home, in a pitcher's park at night (where pitchers tend to fare better at Dodger Stadium)? I know my explanation doesn't make sense, I was just trying to think of some way that it would even begin to be justified. If the Pirates wrap up the other NLDS today, and the Dodgers win tonight, Kershaw wouldn't be available on regular rest until probably game 3, meaning he'd start game 3 and 7 instead of 1, 4 and 7. Yeah doesn't make sense. The NLCS starts on Friday no matter what happens today, correct? That is how it is listed on the site and that is how it has been done in recent years. They have specific days they want games on the air. If he pitches today, that leaves him available on short rest for Game 1, or regular rest for Game 2, Saturday. If they lose tonight and he does not pitch, then he absolutely will pitch in game 5, which would be on an extra day's rest. And then he would not be available until game 3 of NLCS.