Just about all evaluations of the teams in this year's World Series come to one conclusion -- that the Los Angeles Dodgers have the superior bullpen, which by any standards figures to translate to a victory for the National League champions.
But those evaluations are all predicated on the Dodgers' starting rotation, led by Clayton Kershaw, carrying a lead into the sixth inning and turning it over to a relief corps that has been just short of perfect during the postseason. And make no mistake about it, Kershaw is expected to push his postseason misery to the background and set the stage.
Widely acclaimed as the best pitcher in the game, Kershaw's 114-64 career regular-season record and 2.36 career ERA is more than slightly tainted by his 6-7, 4.40 postseason numbers spread over 21 games, 17 of which have been starts. This is the seventh year of postseason play for Kershaw and the first time the Dodgers have gotten this far.
