For the second straight season, the Los Angeles Dodgers are the cream of the crop in the National League West. With ace Clayton Kershaw starring on the hill, in the field and even with the bat, Los Angeles clinched the division title with a 9-1 victory over second-place San Francisco on Wednesday night . Like 2013, the Dodgers overcame a slow start and an early deficit to reach the top. On June 1, they were 30-28 and a season-high 7 1/2 games behind San Francisco. However, by July 1 they shaved seven games off the lead. By August, they held a two-game lead, and from that point on managed to keep San Francisco in their rear view mirror. It wasn't always easy, but it wasn't quite as dramatic as their almost season-long chase of the Arizona Diamondbacks last season, which culminated with an epic clincher Chase Field. There was no pool to celebrate in once their ticket was officially punched this time around, but they did have bubbles. Most importantly, though, they've played themselves into another opportunity to complete their mission of winning a World Series championship. With that in mind, here's a look at five big reasons why the Dodgers emerged as the best in the West. Clayton...