LEADING OFF: Kershaw sees doc, Matz has bone spur

A look at what's happening all around the majors Wednesday:

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BARKING BACK

Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw is returning to Los Angeles for tests on a sore lower back that's been bothering him for weeks. Kershaw may still make his next scheduled start Friday night against Colorado despite dealing on and off with the discomfort. Kershaw has been on the disabled list only once in his nine-year career, in early 2014 with a shoulder strain. "It's been a few weeks where it's been in and out, and he's so good, it kind of started barking a little bit, so I think that right now we just want to kind of get some answers," manager Dave Roberts said.

PITCHING THROUGH PAIN

Steven Matz had his scheduled start pushed to Thursday to get extra rest after being diagnosed with a bone spur in his pitching elbow. The young Mets lefty will continue pitching through the bone spur because doctors have assured the team he cannot do damage to it. "He's going to have to deal with it because it's not going away," manager Terry Collins said Tuesday. Matz had Tommy John surgery on his left elbow in 2009 shortly after being drafted.

WORKING HARD

The Indians go for their 12th straight win and Danny Salazar (9-3, 2.40) takes a five-game winning streak into a game at Atlanta. Cleveland's streak is its longest in 34 years and two shy of tying the franchise mark, and now it's in the hands of Salazar, who has been dominant, but not necessarily efficient. Entering Tuesday, he was second in the AL in ERA behind Boston's Steven Wright, but he had also thrown the second-most pitches per plate appearance in the league with 4.17.

ROLLING IN ST. LOUIS

Cardinals right-hander Carlos Martinez (7-5, 3.02) tries to keep up a dominant stretch when St. Louis hosts Kansas City. Martinez is 3-0 with a 1.24 ERA over his past five starts, though he most recently got a no decision after seven strong innings in a 4-3 loss to Seattle. The Royals counter with Edinson Volquez (7-7, 5.15).

FAST TRACK

Right-hander Brock Stewart makes his major league debut for the Dodgers against Milwaukee after opening this season with Class A Rancho Cucamonga. The 2014 sixth-round pick rocketed to the majors with a 1.47 ERA in 14 starts between Class A, Double-A and Triple-A this season. Stewart was an infielder at Illinois State who rarely pitched before being drafted, but he needed just 221 1/3 minor league innings before getting the call. His quick transition to the mound may have been helped by the fact that his dad, Jeff, is a scout with the Rays.