2017 NLCS: Chris Taylor and Justin Turner split MVP honors

Los Angeles Dodgers’ Chris Taylor and Justin Turner split the 2017 National League Championship Series MVP award after standout performances in the NLCS.

The National League Championship Series victory was so big for the Los Angeles Dodgers that the 2017 NLCS MVP trophy was split two ways this year. Chris Taylor and Justin Turner were tapped to receive MVP honors after their solid performances in the series. Taylor (NLCS: .316 AVG, 2 HR, triple and 5 RBI) and Turner (NLCS: .333 AVG, 2 HR, 7 RBI) were major factors in the Dodgers NLCS success.

Taylor’s go ahead run in the 6th inning helped give the Dodgers a path to victory in Game 1. Manager Dave Roberts considers Taylor to be an “unsung hero” on the team. He adjusted his swing ahead of the 2017 season to help him in the leadoff position, which seems to have worked out well.

It was Turner’s walk off 3-run homer in Game 2 that broke the tie in the 9th inning and handed the Dodgers a 4-1 victory over the Cubs. That walk-off home run came 29 years to the day of Kirk Gibson’s walk-off homer in Game 1 of the 1988 World Series. Turner’s bat in the NLCS gave the Dodgers bullpen some much-needed relief, helping to extend the team’s leads in four of the five games and ensure a Los Angeles victory.

Throughout the NLCS, the Dodgers were able to capitalize on being well rested, which helped them fall into a groove of hot bats and lights-out pitching. While the Cubs managed to score first in the first four games, the Dodgers always answered quickly with runs of their own and the bullpen shut them down to hold on to the wins.

Next: Ranking every World Series winner

Los Angeles will await the results of the American League Championship Series to see who they will face in the 2017 World Series. The New York Yankees currently hold a 3-2 lead over the Houston Astros.