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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 Vans Old Skool Pink . -- Matt Rupert scored once in regulation and again in the shootout as the London Knights extended their win streak to nine games by defeating the Owen Sound Attack 4-3 on Friday in Ontario Hockey League action. Vans Old Skool White Sale .C. at the helm of the top team in the Eastern Conference. His tenure as the GM in Vancouver was all too brief. Though he led the Canucks to what was then a franchise record-shattering campaign in just his second season, Nonis was gone and replaced one year later. http://www.vansshoesclearancesale.com/ . The Swede became the first golfer to win the PGA Tours FedEx Cup and European Tours Race to Dubai in the same season. "It is still taking a little time to sink in what Ive achieved this week as was the case when I won the FedEx Cup but then it just kept getting better and better as the days went on and I am sure this will be the same," he said. Vans Old Skool White .C. -- Al Jefferson joked that he feels he can score from anywhere on the court. Vans Old Skool Black Sale . 31, the CFL club announced Monday. The team also has yet to decide on the future of Doug Berry, who began the season as a consultant to the head coach but took over the offensive co-ordinators duties in July. SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Torii Hunter Jr. said he expects to play in No. 18 Notre Dames game against No. 12 Michigan State?on Saturday after the Fighting Irish receiver sustained a concussion in Week 1.Im fairly confident, because [Tuesday] I did everything that they would allow me to do, and I pushed myself [Tuesday], Hunter said Wednesday. A couple one-on-ones, 7-on-7s, 11-on-11s. I went out there and did as much as I could and just tried to be smart about falling on the ground and keeping my head up, blocking plays and things like that.So, as the week goes on, Ill definitely try to push myself more and see what I can do, and Im confident Ill be ready come Saturday.Hunter, who said he was medically cleared this past Sunday, sustained the concussion on a helmet-to-helmet hit in the end zone late in the third quarter of Notre Dames 50-47 double-overtime loss Sept. 4 at Texas.It was my first one that Ive told them about, or that theyve known about, that Ive actually lost consciousness and all that, Hunter said. So, yeah, it was my first one that Ive experienced. It was a real experience, but Im glad to be back.The play was not flagged and nnot even reviewed, despite new rules this season that allow targeting penalties to be called retroactively.dddddddddddd The absence of such consequences stoked anger from Irish coach Brian Kelly and his players in the aftermath of the game.Hunter said Wednesday that he wasnt sure if the hit warranted a penalty, but he did say the play deserved to be reviewed. The junior and captain also said Texas safeties DeShon Elliott and Kevin Vaccaro messaged him on Twitter to apologize for the hit. Elliott had delivered the direct hit, while Vaccaro was in on the play as well.Hunter said he remembered everything leading up to the hit but the hit itself, adding that he recalled going down steps into the locker room after being helped off the field.I remember catching the ball, having it in my hands, Hunter said. As soon as I got hit, I dont remember any of that, and I dont remember being on the ground.The son of the former MLB outfielder by the same name, Hunter has 39 career catches for 465 yards and four touchdowns. ' ' '