5 Clayton Kershaw Predictions for the 2014 MLB Postseason

Clayton Kershaw is the Los Angeles Dodgers’ best player, so it makes sense that when the boys in blue kick off their playoff run, all eyes will be on him. For every game that he is on the mound, he will be the key figure.

As the presumptive NL MVP and Cy Young winner, Kershaw has clearly proven himself capable of living up to expectations. In fact, the question when he takes the ball is not whether or not he will be good; the question is just how dominant he will be.

With that being said, here are a few things to look for from the Dodger lefty during the playoffs.

1. At Least Five Starts

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This is more of a team prediction than a player-specific one, and it requires the Dodgers to make the World Series. If both the NLDS and the NLCS go their maximum length, Kershaw would start Games 1 and 5 of the division series and Games 2 and 6 (or 3 and 7) of the NLCS. His fifth start would come in the World Series.

He is a big factor in the Dodgers’ quest for the pennant, but he is not the only factor. A.J. Ellis is the only regular who is below average offensively (as measured by FanGraphs wRC+), and the top of the rotation is well known: Kershaw, Zack Greinke and Hyun-jin Ryu. Predicting the playoffs is a fool’s errand, but the Dodgers are as set up as anyone else to make a run.

2. One “Bad” Outing

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Kershaw was nearly as dominant last year as he was this year, and he still had a terrible performance in the playoffs (four innings, seven runs in Game 6). That serves as a reminder that pitching results are slightly random, and in any game Kershaw can strike out more than a batter per inning and still allow 10 hits.

Obviously, it would be silly to expect something as bad as what he put up last year. A pitcher as dominant as Kershaw simply doesn’t allow that to happen very often. However, there is a possibility that he will have one game where he is not the world’s best pitcher.

3. Overall Dominance

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Even if the previous prediction comes true, I still expect Kershaw’s overall line to be phenomenal. He posted the best ERA, FIP, and xFIP of his career, and the anticipated MVP award will be well deserved. Given the roll that he has been on for all of 2014, I expect that to continue during the playoffs. He is the best pitcher in baseball; when all is said and done, his line will reflect that.

4. A Narrative Moment

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Kershaw’s MVP moment came earlier in the season, when his June 18 start resulted in a no-hitter and a game score of 102. However, the MLB playoffs are full of fantastic games that remind all of us why we watch, and Kershaw has been such a huge part of this season that it would only be fitting that he provide one.

5. At Least One Non-Pitching Highlight

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In addition to being the best pitcher in baseball, Kershaw has provided some value at the plate. He’s not a particularly good hitter—career 2 wRC+—particularly when compared to his teammate Greinke.

You’d be forgiven for thinking he’s better than that, though, given his propensity for highlights. There was his game-tying triple in the division-clinching game against the Giants on September 4 (see 0:40 of this video), and there was his game-winning home run against the Giants on Opening Day last year.

He can also field his position extremely well, as evidenced by the behind-the-back stop in the clinching game versus San Francisco and his brilliant diving play on a Brewers’ squeeze attempt in August.

It would be fitting if his magical season ended with one more highlight.