Shawn Green: Puig an 'unsung MVP' for Dodgers

The Los Angeles Dodgers are set to face the Chicago Cubs in the National League Championship Series for the second time in as many seasons. Former Dodgers All-Star outfielder Shawn Green spoke to theScore's Brandon Wile on Friday to tee up the series.

Wile: Yasiel Puig starred in the NLDS. How important is he to this lineup when he's locked in?

Shawn Green: He's kind of an unsung MVP of the team. There's so many great hitters (in that lineup). The first four guys have been incredibly valuable and it's so well balanced with righties and lefties, guys who get on base and guys who knock them in. It's the best one-through-four in the league. Puig has really quietly put up his best year in a lot of ways and has added that extra depth to the lineup to help the four guys at the top. Puig really fits in with that success of the top four guys. Sometimes he's hitting eighth, sometimes fifth. He's bounced around that lineup, and has been an anchor. (Hitting coach) Turner Ward has really handled him well. I think he's figured out how to focus his energy into making him a better player, rather than an out-of-control player. He still plays like the Wild Horse, but it's more focused this year.

Wile: A Dodgers star trending the other way, Cody Bellinger has struggled early in his first postseason. Any advice?

Green: The postseason is tough. When you're Cody Bellinger, even though the Dodgers have such a deep lineup, he's still a focal point. It's rare to see the big star, the big home run hitter, come out and dominate in the postseason. Big Papi's done it over and over again, and there's been some guys who have done it, but usually the World Series MVP is a guy like Pat Borders or a pitcher. They're going to pitch Cody so carefully, and there's going to be a lot of pitching changes, so once you get through the lineup twice, you're going to be facing the guys who match up against you the strongest. The best advice is to try to not do too much, and in some ways, it's better to think less about the longball and more about having good at-bats. Trying to do less. You get in those big situations, and natural instinct is to go even harder, and you have to fight that and calm things down.

Wile: Which Dodger will play the biggest role in deciding the series?

Green: It's really going to come down to Clayton Kershaw. If he can come out and dominate. I mean it's no secret that he's had his challenges this time of year. This is the moment. He's the best pitcher of a generation and one of the best pitchers of all time, and he really needs to make his mark while he's still in his prime. I really believe this is the year he's going to come out and dominate and clear all the postseason criticism from his legacy.

Wile: The Dodgers were the only team to sweep, while the Cubs are coming off a grueling 5-game series. Is it an advantage for the Dodgers to be well rested?

Green: Usually a four-day layoff is a big disadvantage for teams even though you get your pitching lined up perfectly. There's so much momentum from an offensive standpoint - and defensive as well - just to be in that rhythm, especially when you get really hot. The Dodgers have shown all year that they're either a super hot, or super cold team. You don't want any days off when you start to get hot. The way it played out with the Cubs series - how crazy that last game was, the rainout (before Game 4), and all that stuff - it does play to the Dodgers advantage, even though they've had a long stretch with no games.

Wile: No team won more games in the regular season than the Dodgers. Is the mindset in Los Angeles that it's win the World Series or bust?

Green: It's definitively the mindset (in the city). I think failure in the (Dodgers') mind would be to not get to the World Series at this point. Obviously, it's always the mindset to win the World Series, but the team's gotten to this spot a few times in the last five years, so it would be a huge disappointment to not take the next step and get to the World Series.

Wile: What would a World Series win mean for the city?

Green: I think it would be massive. It's always been a baseball town. The Lakers have obviously dominated so much in different stretches, different dynasties, and in a lot of ways, have taken over LA. But for the Dodgers, to come out and win a World Series would really electrify this city. Until now, there's really been no football, and hockey had its biggest moments over the last 5-10 years, but that was a newer sport and a building fanbase. The Dodgers represent Los Angeles and I feel they've been so hungry to have that World Series. The last time that happened, it was probably the most dramatic and memorable World Series in recent history.

Wile: Prediction for the series?

Green: Dodgers in 6.

(Photos courtesy: Action images)