Playoff implication abound in Dodgers, Cards tilt

There will be playoff implications all around when the Los Angeles Dodgers travel to St. Louis for a four-game series starting Thursday, including thoughts of a potential preview for a one-game National League wild-card matchup. Where that playoff game could potentially be played could be decided starting with Thursday's series opener, which will pit the Dodgers' Clayton Kershaw (7-5, 2.42 ERA) against the Cardinals' Austin Gomber (5-0, 2.93) in a battle of lefties. The Cardinals won all three games between the teams in Los Angeles three weeks ago.