LOS ANGELES -- Despite the fact that Clayton Kershaw?threw a light bullpen session Sunday, the Los Angeles Dodgers staff ace will not be in the clubs rotation when the second half of the season kicks off next weekend at Arizona.Kershaw will be eligible to come off the 15-day disabled list Friday for the start of the second half, but Sundays 20-25 pitch bullpen session was the first time he threw from a mound since June 26 at Pittsburgh, so his return to action will have to wait. He played a light game of catch on flat ground last week.To see Clayton in a pen, throwing off a mound, is definitely encouraging, manager Dave Roberts said.Kershaw took the loss in his most recent start, giving up four runs and nine hits to the Pirates, the second-most he has allowed this season in each category. He did not reference an injury after the start, but he was treated for a lower back injury the following day.The Dodgers ultimately put their three-time Cy Young Award winner on the disabled list with a mild disc herniation. No timetable was given for his return.Roberts has lined up his second-half rotation without Kershaw in it the first time through the order. For the clubs three-game series at Arizona to open the second half, the Dodgers will pitch Bud Norris, Brandon McCarthy and Kenta Maeda, in that order. When the team travels to Washington, Scott Kazmir will open that series, followed by Hyun-Jin Ryu.The three right-handers to start, followed by the two left-handers, is a partial nod to matchups at Arizona and Washington.Yeah, there is a matchup component there, and there is also the rest, with the days off after we come out of the break and how that sets up, Roberts said. So there are a lot of variables that are baked in when we tried to make those decisions.Roberts was asked if it is possible that Kershaw could rejoin the rotation later in the trip, either at Washington or at St. Louis. The Dodgers embark on a nine-game, 10-day trip after the All-Star break.Im not sure, Roberts said. But Bud Norris will start the second half and then McCarthy, Kenta, Kaz and then Ryu. And everyone will stay in their turn. Matt Thomas Jersey . With his new coach and six-time Grand Slam singles champion Boris Becker watching him during an official match for the first time, Djokovic appeared tentative early against the Slovakian player, who often appeared content to keep the ball in play. Kyle Lowry Jersey . The Cincinnati Reds remain perfect with their speedy rookie outfielder in the starting lineup. https://www.cheapraptors.com/783a-shamorie-ponds-jersey-raptors.html . McCarthy, a player who played some games in the second tier for Wigan at the start of this season, would go on to shine inside Evertons midfield, outplaying the man he was brought in to replace, on one of the grandest stages in English football. On Saturday, it was fitting that Manchester Uniteds most recent dagger into the chest was delivered by Frenchman Yohan Cabaye, a wonderfully gifted central midfielder who put on an outstanding effort for Newcastle at Old Trafford. Jonas Valanciunas Jersey . What general manager Dave Nonis called "short and productive" negotiations ended with Kessel signing a US$64-million, eight-year contract on Tuesday. OG Anunoby Jersey . The team also announced Tuesday that the Braves will wear a commemorative patch on the right sleeve during the season. The patch, shaped like home plate, carries the number 715, Aarons autograph and a "40th Anniversary" banner. NEWARK, N.J. -- Jay Wright doesnt follow who is in the running for national player of the year. However, the Villanova coach thinks he has the best player in the country in senior guard Josh Hart.After Saturdays career-best performance, it would be hard to argue.Hes as good as any player in the country is and hes so complete. He will do whatever it takes to win a game and he has the ability to do it and at the right time, Wright said. He got big rebounds at the end of the game. He got offensive rebounds, he scored, he made passes, he made free throws, he defended. He did everything. Hes as complete a player as weve ever had.Hart scored a career-high 37 points and No. 1 Villanova rallied from an 11-point deficit to beat No. 23 Notre Dame 74-66 on Saturday at the Prudential Center.I honestly didnt know how many points I had. I was just trying to make the right play, Hart said, later adding, I want to be great. I want to be as good as Josh Hart can be, and I have no idea how good that is, but Im going to try and figure out.Hart was the only Villanova (10-0) player to score in double figures. He was 10 of 14 from the field, including 3 of 4 from behind the arc, and he made all 14 of his free throw attempts.Matt Farrell and Steve Vasturia had 18 points each for Notre Dame (9-1), which entered the game as one of eight remaining unbeaten Division I teams.Villanova took its first lead of the game at 57-56 after Eric Paschall blocked Vasturias 3-pointer with 9:15 left. Hart assisted on a layup by Jalen Brunson at 9:09 to give the Wildcats the lead.The teams exchanged the lead from there until Villanova pulled away in the final minute.Farrell, a Bridgewater, New Jersey native, made his first six shots including a driving layup at the halftime buzzer that gave Notre Dame a 41-36 lead.It was a blast playing here. I think last year I wasnt able to play that much, so I wasnt able to play my game, Farrell said. I was playing a different kind of role.Which includes being a leader on the team, both vocally and statistically.Hes a fighter, coach Mike Brey said. Hes one tough Jersey guy..ddddddddddddDown 35-24 with 3:52 left in the first half, Villanova chipped away at the lead.We were trying to stop them in the first half. We really were. . They make the right play every time, but we just were not doing a good job in the first half for whatever reason, Wright said. And theyre good. Thats the other reason. Theyre really good. Nothing different at halftime. We just said we got to try to do what our game plan is. Were trying and theyre beating us. We have to try harder.BIG PICTURENotre Dame: The Fighting Irish were off to their best start of Breys tenure, which began in 2000-01.Villanova: Dating to their national championship run last season, the Wildcats are tied for the longest winning streak in school history at 16 games. Villanova won 16 straight games in the second half of the 2014-15 season before losing to N.C. State in the NCAA Tournament.POLL IMPLICATIONSThe Wildcats should stay No. 1 as they remain undefeated. Given Notre Dames effort, theres a chance they stay in the poll following its first loss of the season.NOT SO NEUTRAL COURTWhile the game was played in Newark as part of the Never Forget Tribute Classic, the packed Prudential Center was filled with Wildcat fans.It was a road atmosphere, Brey said. I loved how we handled it. We were poised.SLAYING THE CHAMPIONSNotre Dame is no stranger to defeating national champions. Under Brey, Notre Dame had played the defending champion 11 times, winning seven of those games. The most recent win came last season when they defeated 2015 champion Duke 95-91 at Cameron Indoor Stadium.FORMER BIG EAST FOESBefore Notre Dame left the Big East for the ACC, it played Villanova regularly. The schools have played 36 times with Villanova holding a 19-17 lead.UP NEXTNotre Dame: The Fighting Irish get a week to rest before hosting No. 18 Purdue next Saturday night.Villanova: The Wildcats will complete their circuit with the Big 5 when they host Philadelphia rival Temple on Tuesday night. ' ' '