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MLB Playoffs: The most important player on each team

By Pete Schauer

August 22, 2014; Oakland, CA, USA; Los Angeles Angels center fielder Mike Trout (27) bats during the eighth inning against the Oakland Athletics at O.co Coliseum. The Athletics defeated the Angels 5-3. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
August 22, 2014; Oakland, CA, USA; Los Angeles Angels center fielder Mike Trout (27) bats during the eighth inning against the Oakland Athletics at O.co Coliseum. The Athletics defeated the Angels 5-3. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 24, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw (22) pitches in the eighth inning against the San Francisco Giants at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 24, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw (22) pitches in the eighth inning against the San Francisco Giants at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports /

Los Angeles Dodgers: Clayton Kershaw

There hasn’t been a better pitcher in the game this season than Clayton Kershaw, and although he can’t pitch every game for the Los Angeles Dodgers this postseason, he’s still the most important piece.

Part of that is because he’s struggled so badly during the playoffs.

In his postseason career–six starts–Kershaw is just 1-3 with an inflated 4.23 ERA and 1.28 WHIP. To put things into perspective, Kershaw is undoubtedly going to be named the NL Cy Young winner this year after winning 21 games and leading all of baseball with a 1.77 ERA.

Kershaw will be handed the ball in Game 1 of the NLDS vs. the Cardinals, and his start is going to set the tone for the Dodgers’ playoff run.

Los Angeles can’t win the World Series unless Kershaw is on his game, making the 26-year-old lefty the most important piece to the Dodgers’ postseason.

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