Clayton Kershaw has pitched well for the Dodgers this postseason

Clayton Kershaw

If you look at regular season statistics, Clayton Kershaw is the best pitcher of his generation, and there isn't even much of an argument.

The Los Angeles Dodgers' left-hander is 175-76 with a 2.43 ERA in his career. He has 2,526 strikeouts. He's won the Cy Young Award three times. He was the National League MVP in 2014, a rare accomplishment for a pitcher.

Five times Kershaw has led the NL in ERA. He's had the lowest WHIP in the league four times. He's led the league in wins and strikeouts three times each.

The blemishes on his career? Well, the Dodgers win the NL West Division every year, but they've yet to win the World Series during the Kershaw era. And Kershaw himself has a pedestrian postseason record -- he's 13-12 with a 4.19 ERA. 

Kershaw is the all-time leader in postseason strikeouts with 207, but you would expect a better record under the playoff lights from a generational pitcher such as this.

Thing is, Kershaw has quieted some of that criticism here in 2020. Four of those 13 career postseason wins have come this year -- the latest a 4-2 win over the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 5 of the World Series on Sunday night.

The Dodgers now lead the World Series, 3 games to 2, and Kershaw is on the verge of finally getting a championship ring to finish off his Hall of Fame resume. And, he has been a significant contributor to this Los Angeles run. Here is a breakdown of his five postseason starts this year:

Oct. 1 vs. Milwaukee: 8 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 13 Ks, 1 BB -- WIN

Oct. 7 vs. San Diego: 6 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 6 Ks, 0 BB -- WIN

Oct. 15 vs. Atlanta: 5 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 4 Ks, 1 BB -- LOSS

Oct. 20 vs. Tampa Bay: 6 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 8 Ks, 1 BB -- WIN

Oct. 25 vs. Tampa Bay: 5.2 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 6 Ks, 2 BBs -- WIN

That totals up to a 4-1 record, including two World Series wins, with a 2.64 ERA, 37 strikeouts and five walks in 30.2 innings pitched.

I'm guessing Kershaw's 2020 postseason is over, unless he pitches in relief in a potential Game 7, and while you can't erase the struggles and disappointments of previous years, you have to give credit where credit is due. 

Kershaw has been good in the playoffs this year.