osting a 5-2 record as the starter while incumbent Ricky Ray was injured

WASHINGTON -- It is one of baseballs enduring mysteries in recent years and will be front-and-center in Game 1 of the NL Division Series between the Dodgers and Nationals that begins Friday:Why is LA lefty Clayton Kershaw so downright masterful during the regular season and so decidedly mediocre during the playoffs?While a player such as Washington slugger Bryce Harper talks about thriving when the stage is biggest, the lights brightest, the TV audience broadest, Kershaw seems to spend early October dealing with questions about happens to him at this time of year. He goes from being a three-time Cy Young Award winner (with a pair of other top-three finishes in voting) who wins two out of every three decisions (126-60 career record) and owns a 2.37 ERA to just a guy: 2-6, 4.59 ERA.The bad ones stand out more, he said Thursday, for sure.He offered one possible explanation for the disparity, and a hopeful-sounding view of why things could be different this time around, beginning when he faces Max Scherzer and the rest of the NL East champions.In years gone by, Kershaw said, he thought he was supposed to carry the Dodgers.But he missed more than two months with a back injury in 2016 and thought it took some time to get completely comfortable when he returned for five starts in September.In the past, Ive definitely felt that pressure more. But this years been a little bit different for me, just as far as having to watch on the sidelines. ... Its really kind of hit home for me a little bit, as Ive come back, that I can definitely be a part of this and definitely help and definitely be a factor in winning, Kershaw said. But I dont have to be THE factor.Another difference: He recently picked up somewhat of a sidearm delivery for the occasional 95 mph fastball, something he got from Game 2 starter Rich Hill.Neither Dodgers rookie manager Dave Roberts nor Kershaw himself has spent time going over video of past playoff performances to try to glean anything that could be improved or changed for this series.I dont read too much into it and havent looked back on it. I dont think it has any bearing on this postseason, the start tomorrow, Roberts said. And I really dont think Clayton cares, either.Setting aside Kershaws particular case, for the moment, there are those players, to be sure, who are able to elevate themselves when the stakes and scrutiny are the greatest.Harper, who slugged .882 with three homers in Washingtons 2014 NLDS loss to San Francisco, describes himself as someone who enjoys playing in front of millions of people and adds: My heart doesnt really race or anything like that. Im super calm. I feel great at the plate. I feel great in the outfield. Just feels like home.Nationals left fielder Jayson Werth, who won a World Series title with Philadelphia in 2008, spoke about Phillies teammate Jimmy Rollins as an example of someone who performed best when the TV cameras turned on.The red lights on and, all of a sudden, he turns into a superhero. Thats more personality than DNA, I think, Werth said. Some guys can do it. Some guys are the opposite. They play better during the season, when no ones watching.Some other story lines to watch in the NLDS between the Dodgers and Nationals:ROOKIE STARS: This series features two outstanding rookies who might be the teams most dynamic offensive players, Dodgers SS Corey Seager (.308 average, 26 HRs) and Nationals CF Trea Turner (.342, 13 HRs, 33 SBs in 73 games). Hes going to help us out tremendously the next couple of weeks, Harper said about Turner.HOME VS. ROAD: The Dodgers went 53-28 at home and only 38-43 on the road in 2016; if the best-of-five NLDS goes the distance, Game 5 will be at Nationals Park. You know what? Roberts said. I dont think therell be carryover.CLOSE CLOSERS: Each club features a top regular-season closer -- Washingtons Mark Melancon converted 47 of 51 save chances this year; LAs Kenley Jansen went 47 for 53. One difference: Melancon was asked to earn a save of more than three outs only twice all season, while Jansen did it five times, and Roberts said hed have no qualms about asking for that repeatedly in the series.HISTORY-MAKING MANAGERS: This is the first postseason matchup in MLB history involving two black managers. It gives us some pride, in being African-American, to show people that not only can we do the job, but we can do the job better than most, Washingtons Dusty Baker said.---AP Sports Writer Stephen Whyno contributed.---Follow Howard Fendrich on Twitter at http://twitter.com/HowardFendrich Wholesale Vapormax 3 . -- Derrick Rose shook off poor shooting early to hit clutch shots late and Carlos Boozer had 20 points and 13 rebounds to lead the Chicago Bulls to a 104-95 preseason victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday night. Vapormax 3 Clearance . -- Arizona raced out to a big lead and did not back off, hitting the accelerator instead. http://www.clearancevapormax.com/cheap-vapormax-flyknit-clearance.html .ca NFL Power Rankings, overtaking the Denver Broncos and remaining ahead of NFC competition San Francisco, Carolina and New Orleans. Cheap Vapormax Flyknit 3 . Denis Coderre, the former federal MP who was elected mayor on Nov. 3, has drawn the ire of some Montreal Canadiens. During last nights game he tweeted: "Hello? Can we get a one-way ticket to (minor-league) Hamilton for David Desharnais please. Vapormax 2019 Clearance . Collaros, 25, was solid last season, posting a 5-2 record as the starter while incumbent Ricky Ray was injured. Collaros also started Torontos 23-20 regular-season finale loss to Montreal — Ray didnt dress because the Argos had already clinched first in the East Division — but was one of three quarterbacks to play that day. MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- The Memphis Grizzlies have signed guard Toney Douglas under the NBAs hardship rule.The Grizzlies announced the move Monday, a week after Mike Conley broke several bones on the vertebrae of his lower back. Conley will not have surgery but is expected to miss at least six weeks.The 6-foot-2, 195-pound Douglas has started 65 of his career 370 games during a seven-year career with the New York Knicks, Houston, Sacramento, Golden State, Miami annd New Orleans.dddddddddddd He played 10 of his 15 postseason games in Miami with Memphis coach David Fizdale.Douglas was the 29th pick overall by the Lakers in 2009 out of Florida State.Conley joined Chandler Parsons, James Ennis and Brandan Wright on the Grizzlies lengthy injury list.Memphis plays at New Orleans on Monday night. ' ' '