Veterans are Leading the Dodgers to Victory

The Dodgers opened up this postseason with seven rookies on the roster, however it has been the veterans like Clayton Kershaw, Kenley Jansen, Justin Turner and Adrian Gonzalez who have carried the team thus far.

The Dodgers are looking to rewrite the postseason narrative after winning the National League Western Division in four straight season and failing to reach the World Series. For Kershaw, his redemption journey throughout this postseason has been nothing short of legendary posting 19 1/3 inning with 25 strikeouts in just a 10 day span, showing why he is the best pitcher in the game.

Contributions from the bullpen have proven to be essential for Dave Roberts as he has asked a lot of Kenley Jansen this postseason and Jansen has answered the bell with absolute dominance. Other than a blown save in game 2 verses the Nationals, Kenley has been dominate posting 13 strikeouts in 7 1/3 innings pitched and been asked to record a 6 out save twice.

Clayton Kershaw and Kenley Jansen have combined to get 44% of the #Dodgers' outs this postseason.

— Bill Shaikin (@BillShaikin) October 17, 2016

The performances and leadership of both Kershaw and Kenley has without a doubt inspired the Dodger lineup lead by Adrian Gonzalez and Justin Turner, to manufacture big-time hits in the clutch. After a heartbreaking loss in game 1 verse the Cubs, the leadership of Gonzalez who tied the game in 8th with a base hit off of the flame throwing Aroldis Champman, was shown as he and the team were unshaken by the defeat.

Crushing defeat for #Dodgers? Adrian Gonzalez: "This actually gives us a lot of confidence. We know we can beat them."

— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) October 16, 2016

Dodgers veterans Turner, Gonzalez and Utley have provided much needed experience and a sense fearlessness to the Dodgers lineup that has the odds stacked against them verses the Cubs. The Dodgers will continue to look to their big 3 in the lineup for timely production and clutch at-bats as the series verse the Cubs intensifies heading into game 3  at Dodger Stadium.

Dave Roberts will surely call on Kenley again in the series to close out the Cubs, but the games will come down to the continued leadership and production of Gonzalez, Turner  Utley. Kershaw and the Dodgers are trying to rewrite past postseason failures with some magic of their own and finally bring home a World Series since 1988.