LOS ANGELES -- The most intriguing question facing the Dodgers in this National League Division Series might never get answered.
Who starts Game 5?
At this point, it's hypothetical. The Dodgers took a commanding 2-0 lead in the best-of-five series with a 3-0 victory over the Braves on Friday night. Clayton Kershaw cast aside, arguably, his worst regular season in a decade and put forth, arguably, the best playoff performance of his career with eight shutout frames.
Game 5 for the Dodgers seems unfathomable right now. And so, they're not about to start mulling publicly whether they'd go with Hyun-Jin Ryu or Kershaw. But it does seem that there is a decision to be made, which in itself is newsworthy.
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As recently as a couple of months ago, that question would've been greeted with a laugh, the answer more obvious than any in baseball history. These days, it's not so simple.
Ryu worked seven shutout innings in Game 1 against Atlanta on Thursday night, and he owns a 1.02 ERA in 10 starts at Dodger Stadium this year. Kershaw, meanwhile, posted a 2.73 ERA this season, his highest since 2010. (It was a solid season for anyone without his absurdly high standards.)
Kershaw entered his Game 2 start coming off his worst outing of the season -- five innings of five-run ball in a pivotal game in San Francisco on Saturday. He responded in a big way against the Braves, perhaps quelling any doubts about a potential Game 5 start.
The club's explanation for Ryu over Kershaw in Game 1 came down to the belief that both could benefit from pitching on five days' rest. So Kershaw was pushed back. Because there are two off-days during the Division Series, he'd be eligible to pitch Game 5 on normal rest anyway.
If it gets that far, of course.
"Our goal isn't to play five games," said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, when asked before Game 2 whether Ryu's performance would alter his plans for Game 5. "I'm focused only on tonight. And, you know, when and if that situation arises, we will have a plan. But I don't think it does anyone any service to talk about Game 5 right now."

Of course, the other option is Game 1 -- of the NLCS. But that's hypothetical, too. As things stand, it's likely that game will take place in Milwaukee, and Ryu's been much better at home this season.
If the Dodgers are ultimately forced into a Game 5 decision, it'd be far more consequential than the one they made earlier this week. That choice came down to ordering. Both Kershaw and Ryu were going to pitch, no matter what.
This choice would be, in essence, Kershaw vs. Ryu. Kershaw looked like the vintage version of himself on Friday night. But if the series goes to a decisive Game 5 and Kershaw isn't chosen, it would speak volumes about his current standing compared with the pitcher he once was.
On Thursday, Kershaw was asked whether he expects to get the ball in Game 5, were the series to make it that far.
"It would be one of two of us," Kershaw replied. "We'll see."
Or, maybe, we won't. 
Dodgers set sim game for Sunday
Facing a righty-heavy Braves pitching staff, the Dodgers have used the same eight position players in each of the first two games, and it sounds as though they'll keep going back to the well. After two shutout wins, it clearly ain't broke.
"Sometimes you've got to get out of the way," Roberts said.
The Dodgers have relied on platoons all season. That means righty hitters Matt Kemp, James Dozier, David Freese, Chris Taylor and Austin Barnes could remain on the bench all series (unless Sean Newcomb gets an unexpected start for Atlanta).

To keep that bench fresh, Roberts noted that a handful of Dodgers hitters will take part in a simulated game scheduled for Sunday afternoon before Game 3. It's unclear who will pitch.
Hernandez lauds Utley
Enrique Hernandez strolled to the podium Friday afternoon sporting a blue T-shirt with his own likeness next to the likeness of a smiling Chase Utley. Then he touted the impact of Utley (who isn't part of the NLDS roster).
Hernandez has taken over the Dodgers' second-base job to the point where he's starting even against right-handed pitching. In Game 1, Hernandez put the game on ice with a solo homer in the sixth inning. Once a strict platoon/utility option, Hernandez batted .294/.371/.466 during the second half of the season, earning regular playing time for the first time in his career.

"I give most of the credit to Chase, because the work ethic that I created by being around him was what allowed me to have a pretty solid season and contribute a lot to the team," Hernandez said. "If he doesn't play ever again, if he already played his last game of his career, here we are today, we got here at noon, and we worked out like if he was active, like if he was ready to start a game tonight.
"So I'll never be done saying thank you to Chase Utley."