Los Angeles Dodgers: Three biggest questions for the postseason roster

3. The order of the three-headed pitching dragon

For most of the Los Angeles Dodgers’ playoff run, there has been no question on who should start Game 1. That answer has always been Clayton Kershaw.

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Last year, we saw Hyun-Jin Ryu start Game 1 of the NLDS because of the timing of the rest days. However, the Dodgers still went with Kershaw in Game 1 of both the NLCS and the World Series, so it was clear that the NLDS decision really was just a rest decision.

This year is completely different as the Los Angeles Dodgers could sort Ryu, Kershaw and Walker Buehler in a myriad of ways. By the time you read this, you might even know how the Dodgers’ pitchers are going to line up. Right now, there is not a clue.

Some would point towards Kershaw in Game 1 because of his legacy and his experience in the situation. Others would point to Ryu because of his spectacular season, his strong finish and his performance at Dodger Stadium.

Buehler definitely won’t start the first game but you could absolutely make the case for him starting the second game. Ryu starting the first and Kershaw getting bumped all the way to third.

The reason for this being that both Ryu and Buehler are better at Dodger Stadium and as we saw with Buehler last year in Atlanta, he was rattled by the home crowd. Kershaw, while he has his flaws in the big moment as well, is more equipped to handle this at this point in his career.

The problem is that you are limiting how much you can use Kershaw in the NLDS, which hey, might be a good thing. You could bring him out of the pen in Game 5 but you definitely would not be able to start him.

Whereas in a seven-game series the Dodgers could deploy this tactic that way they ensure that they get a fully-rested Kershaw in Game 7 if it comes down to it.

We just don’t know yet and while it might not matter to some, these decisions will have a massive impact on what happens to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the postseason.