Kershaw's next start pushed back

The Los Angeles Dodgers are pushing back Clayton Kershaw's next start three days, but it's merely to give him more rest.

Kershaw is healthy, but with the Dodgers holding a 9 1/2-game lead in the National League West and Kershaw having worked 223 innings, the most in the major leagues, the team wants to give him some extra time off between starts before the playoffs.

Kershaw, who is 14-9 with a league-leading 1.94 ERA, was scheduled to pitch Wednesday against the Arizona Diamondbacks, but instead he will not pitch until Saturday against the San Diego Padres.

Stephen Fife will start Wednesday's game for the Dodgers, according to MLB.com.