Hitting well, Rizzo stays away from LA's Kershaw

LOS ANGELES -- Anthony Rizzo is looking much better at the plate, which is why Cubs manager Dale Sveum didn't want the first baseman to get out of whack Tuesday against Dodgers starter Clayton Kershaw.

"It's just a good day," Sveum said of giving Rizzo a breather. "He's swinging the bat much better now. I want to give him a few days off here and there, and this was a good one to give him off."

Kershaw entered his start holding left-handed hitters to a .148 batting average.

"He's the best in the game," Rizzo said of the Dodgers lefty. "It'd be kind of fun to face him. It's a good day to take off. I get the day off today, play [Wednesday] and a day off the next day, so it's a little blow."

Right-handers aren't having much luck against Kershaw, either, batting .191 entering the night.

"He's the best in the game, he's the best left-handed pitching in the game," Rizzo said. "It's someone I'd like to face. I've faced him before. I'll just watch how he pitches, and one day I'm going to be facing him and I'll be ready for it."