RISINGClayton Kershaw, LHP: At the moment, the Dodgers are a mediocre team that has Clayton Kershaw. That's a pretty good argument, by itself, for Kershaw's MVP candidacy. In the rubber game of the Dodgers' biggest series to date, Kershaw argued his way into pitching the eighth inning and got through it to provide a crucial bridge to closer Kenley Jansen and keep the Dodgers comfortably in first place. Now, he has two more starts to make sure they stay there, starting Friday in Chicago, when he goes for his 20th win.