Kershaw tries to reverse postseason fortunes in Game 1 with Cards

(SportsNetwork.com) - Clayton Kershaw will try to erase some bad postseason memories on Friday when the Los Angeles Dodgers kick off their National League Division Series against the St. Louis Cardinals at Dodger Stadium.

Kershaw already has two NL Cy Young Awards under his belt and is likely headed toward a third this season, and quite possibly an MVP. But he hasn't been as dominant in the postseason, particularly against the Cardinals.

The big left-hander lost both of his starts to the Cardinals in last year's NLCS, including the Cards' Game 6 clincher that saw him get roughed up to the tune of seven runs in just four innings of work.

He is just 1-3 in nine postseason games (6 starts) with a 4.23 ERA.

"That's the hardest part about it. Your season ends," Kershaw said Thursday before the Dodgers worked out. "It always hangs with you until your next start. I had to wait a long time for that next one."

Kershaw was absolutely marvelous for the Dodgers this season, as he led the majors with a 21-3 record, an .875 winning percentage, a 1.77 ERA and an 0.86 WHIP. He was also second in the NL with 239 strikeouts, three behind Johnny Cueto of the Reds and Stephen Strasburg of the Nationals, in 27 starts.

Thanks to Kershaw's brilliance the Dodgers cruised to a NL West title to reach the postseason for the first time in four years. Still, it's the fifth time the franchise is in the playoffs since 2004, as it searches for its first World Series title since 1988.

The NL Central champion Cardinals won't exactly have a slouch on the hill Friday in righty Adam Wainwright. Had Kershaw not been around we very well may be talking about an NL Cy Young Award for Wainwright, who won 20 games (20-9) for the second time in his career and was fifth with a 2.38 ERA over 227.0 innings pitched.

Wainwright is more focused on taking care of his own business, though, rather than the matchup with Kershaw.

"I'm only facing him maybe three times in the game," Wainwright said. "I'm facing those Dodgers hitters. I can't worry about what he's going to do or what his job is on the mound. I have to go out there and get outs. That's what I have to do."

Wainwright was the NL's Pitcher of the Month for September and the Cardinals went 17-9 in that stretch en route to a fourth straight postseason appearance and a second straight division crown.

Los Angeles took four of the seven regular season matchups between these clubs this season.

St. Louis and Los Angeles have met four times in the playoffs (1985, 2004, 2009, 2013) and the Dodgers won only one series, sweeping the Cards in three games in the 2009 Division Series.