Kershaw concerned with Nats, not his playoff mark

WASHINGTON — As the staff ace and the man who gets the ball for Game 1 of the National League Division Series Friday night against the Nationals, Clayton Kershaw will once again shoulder a massive burden for the Dodgers in the postseason.

By now, he’s used to that.

And — having watched as his teammates catapulted the Dodgers to a fourth straight division title, largely without his services — that burden doesn’t seem quite as large as it once did.

The Dodgers open the NL Division Series against the Nationals at 5:30 p.m. ET/2:30 PT on FS1.

Game Date Time Matchup TV Gm 1 Oct. 7 5:30 p.m. LAD @ WSH FS1 Gm 2 Oct. 8 4 p.m. LAD @ WSH FS1 Gm 3 Oct. 10 TBD WAS @ LAD FS1 / MLBN *Gm 4 Oct. 11 TBD WAS @ LAD FS1 *Gm 5 Oct. 13 TBD LAD @ WSH FS1 *- If necessary | All times listed ETShop for postseason gear: Dodgers | Nationals • Complete Postseason coverage

“In the past I’ve definitely felt that pressure more,” said Kershaw, who returned from a back injury in September. “But this year’s been a little bit different for me, just as far as having to watch on the sidelines for two months, understanding how good our team is. … I can definitely be a part of this and definitely help and definitely be a factor in winning. But I don’t have to be the factor. We have so many guys that can do so many different things, that it’s not all on me.”

Kershaw wasn’t shy in calling the 2016 edition of the Dodgers “the most complete team” he’s played for.

“Maybe the most belief, as well, that we are complete — which is almost as important,” he added.

Of course, regardless of how …

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