NLDS preview: Breaking down Cardinals vs. Dodgers

Most of the main faces will be the same when the Dodgers and Cardinals meet in the postseason for the second straight year. But some key circumstances will be different.

This time, the teams are facing off in the National League Division Series instead of the National League Championship Series, which means a best-of-five series instead of best of seven. This time, the Dodgers finished the regular season with a better record and earned home-field advantage. And this time, the Cardinals might be the more banged-up club.

Regardless of the differences, expect another close series. These teams have split their past 20 meetings, including the Cardinals' six-game victory in last year's NLCS. Four of the Cardinals' 10 wins have come against Cy Young shoo-in Clayton Kershaw, the most important player in the series. Has he been unlucky against the Cardinals, or have they somehow figured him out?

The series figures to turn on the answer.

The Dodgers offense is rolling like it hasn't all season. LA led the NL in scoring after the All-Star break and was at its best in September, hitting .295 as a team and averaging 6.24 runs a game. Outfielder Carl Crawford hit .448 in the final month and wasn't the only one to put up gaudy numbers in the second half. Outfielder Matt Kemp led the NL with 17 homers after the break and had 54 RBI, two fewer than first baseman Adrian Gonzalez, the MLB season leader with 116. Four of the NL's top five runs leaders in September were Dodgers: Kemp, right fielder Yasiel Puig, second baseman Dee Gordon and Gonzalez.

EDGE: Dodgers

Both teams' top two starters ranked top 10 in the NL in ERA and should start in Games 1 or 2. Of course, only the Dodgers have Kershaw, who should find space in his trophy room for not only another Cy Young Award, but perhaps an MVP, too. The game's top starter finished with a 1.77 ERA, a 21-3 record and a .196 batting average allowed. Zack Greinke proved more than a capable No. 2, going 17-8 with a 2.72 ERA. He scuffled a bit in August but finished strong, going 4-0 in five September starts. There's a considerable drop-off after the top two, though, partly because of shoulder woes that have limited lefty Hyun-Jin Ryu. No. 4 Dan Haren has struggled in his past two starts against St. Louis.

The Cardinals counter with Adam Wainwright, who figures to lose another Cy Young to Kershaw but is coming off a stronger September. Wainwright was named NL Pitcher of the Month after going 5-0 with a 1.38 ERA in five September starts; Kershaw was a mere 5-0 with a 1.77 ERA. More significantly, Wainwright has fared better against the Dodgers than Kershaw has against the Cardinals. Kershaw is 1-4 with a 3.89 ERA in six starts against St. Louis over the past two seasons.

The Cardinals boast a deeper rotation with No. 2 Lance Lynn coming off his best season (15-10, 2.74 ERA), playoff veteran John Lackey and Shelby Miller, who began relying more on a sinker in August and enjoyed his best stretch of the season. The wild card is Michael Wacha, who was the MVP of last year's NLCS but has not quite worked his way completely back after missing 2½ months with a shoulder reaction. Or has he?

EDGE: Dodgers

Neither team had a more effective reliever than Pat Neshek for the Cardinals. After signing a minor-league deal, he emerged early as a dominant setup man and allowed only three runs before the All-Star break. Neshek scuffled enough in September, however, to raise concerns that he was wearing down with a workload of 71 appearances. Hard-throwing closer Trevor Rosenthal and sinker specialist Seth Maness also appeared in more than 70 games for St. Louis.

The Dodgers didn't have a reliever with more than the 68 outings turned in by closer Kenley Jansen and lefty J.P. Howell. While they both excelled, Brian Wilson was not nearly as effective as he was last year after he returned from Tommy John surgery. But despite a 4.66 ERA, Wilson has held onto the primary setup responsibilities. Getting the ball to Jansen figures to be the toughest challenge the Dodgers face in the series.

EDGE: Cardinals

The arrival of rookie outfielders Randal Grichuk and Oscar Taveras plus last winter's trade for speedy Peter Bourjos and the July pickup of veteran A.J. Pierzynski give the Cardinals a deeper bench than a year ago. They will not, however, have Shane Robinson, who hit a key homer in LA last year. Pete Kozma, the starter at shortstop last year, spent the season in the minors but played well after a September promotion and could find his way not only onto the roster but in the lineup at second base against Kershaw. Kozma is 4 for 5 with three doubles against the Dodgers' ace.

After signing a minor-league deal last winter, Justin Turner gave the Dodgers a huge lift by hitting .340 and playing all four infield positions. LA remains stacked in the outfield with the most likely players not to start including Scott Van Slyke, who hit .297 with 11 homers, and Andre Ethier, one of the few Dodgers who didn't hit well in the final month.

EDGE: Cardinals

The Dodgers enter October having heard all season that they need to reach the World Series or their season will be considered a disappointment. But they played with similar expectations last year, too, and should be accustomed to such pressure. The difference for Los Angeles this time around could be health. The Dodgers did not have Kemp last season and Hanley Ramirez broke a rib when he was hit by a pitch in his first at-bat of the NLCS.

Wacha isn't the only key Cardinal not at 100 percent. Their six-time All-Star catcher, Yadier Molina, has not regained all the strength is his right thumb that was surgically repaired in July. While he remains a stalwart behind the plate, his swing has lacked authority. Manager Mike Matheny believes playing so many close games — 81 were decided by one or two runs — has prepared the Cardinals for the tight, low-scoring affairs associated with the playoffs. Making their fourth straight postseason appearance — a franchise first — should not hurt St. Louis' confidence, either.

EDGE: Cardinals

You can follow Stan McNeal on Twitter at @StanMcNeal or email him at stanmcneal@gmail.com.