SAN DIEGO – The annual dilemma is even more of a dilemma for the Dodgers this fall.
Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw had already accomplished a lot in his career before the 2013 National League Division Series. But he had never pitched on short rest before at any point in his career.
He did it against the Atlanta Braves that fall and again each of the past two years, in NLDS losses to the St. Louis Cardinals in 2014 and the New York Mets in 2015.
The best-of-five format in the division series each year puts the onus on teams to make that decision – should they bring their Game One starter back on short rest to pitch Game Four?