Touch 'Em All: L.A.'s Kershaw makes a case for Cy Young

For a guy who works in the world's entertainment capital, the Dodgers' Clayton Kershaw is quietly making a case to be this year's NL Cy Young Award winner. The 23-year-old lefthander did so again Friday night, outpitching two-time Cy Young winner Tim Lincecum in a 2-1 win over the Giants, in San Francisco no less.

Kershaw (18-5) allowed three hits, one unearned run, struck out nine in eight strong innings in another strong outing. Even so, the Texas native was all aw-shucks about beating Lincecum, and not really in the mood to talk about Cy.

"Three more starts hopefully three more wins. And call it," Kershaw said after the game. "And then look back after that. No disrespect to Timmy. He's an awesome pitcher. I don't care who I get a win against. A win is a win."

The young fellow needs a publicist in the worst way.

Lincecum, by the way, went winless in four tries this year against the Dodgers, losing his two previous decisions to Kershaw.

With all due respect to the Four Aces, if Touch 'Em All had a vote, it would go to Kershaw.

Strasburg update

Washington Nationals phenom Stephen Strasburg, who in his first MLB outing since returning from Tommy John surgery shut down the lifeless Dodgers on two hits over five innings Tuesday, will not be given an extra day of rest. The righthander will make his next start Sunday against the equally moribund Houston Astros.

The Nats return to Philly for a four-game series Sept. 20-22, but don't expect to get a chance to watch a bona fide phenom go against Ryan Howard and Co. at Citizens Bank Park.

Those killjoys at the Washington Post are reporting that the Nats have penciled in Strasburg to pitch Sept. 17 against the Florida Marlins, and Sept. 23 against the Atlanta Braves. If he makes an additional start, it would be in the season finale against the Marlins.

Soft talk, big stick

You've got to hand it to Albert Pujols, no matter what Nyjer Morgan or his alter ego, Tony Plush, says about him. The St. Louis slugger delivers.

With his team down 3-1 to Atlanta Braves in the bottom of the ninth, Pujols hit a two-run single that drove in Nick Punto and Rafael Furcal and sent the game into extra innings. And if Ryan Theriot hadn't got caught between third and home on the play, the game might have ended right there.

As to Morgan's, or more appropriately, Plush's put- down of Pujols on Twitter (calling him "Alberta" and whatnot), Pujols is keeping mum. "I don't want to say anything," Pujols said before Friday's game.

Well said, Albert.