Werth believes experience carries weight for his club in NLDS

Left fielder Jayson Werth is making his eighth playoff appearance today. He brings a wealth of knowledge of how to perform well in important moments. In 2008 and 2009, he appeared in the World Series.

He brings experience to a Nationals club that has good amount of guys that made it to the postseason in 2012 and 2014 and he knows that experience is worth something.

"This is my team. We've been through it," Werth said. "This is our third trip to the postseason. We're battle-tested, we're playoff-tested, pretty much the same core nucleus of players. Again, it's about going out there and getting it done. Hopefully, this year we can take the next step."

"Once you get into the postseason, all bets are off, anything can happen. I got to feel the experience does nothing but help."

Every Nationals fan remembers Werth's Game 4 home run against the Cardinals in the 2012 National League Division Series. What does it take to rise to the occasion in those huge at-bats?

"I think it's just about locking it in," Werth said. "These are big games, obviously. Big stage, everyone is watching. It's just a matter of staying calm and collected and not letting the moment get too big or the situation overcome you."

His last taste of the postseason did not goes as well. Werth went 1-for-17 (.059) against the Giants in the 2014 NLDS. Last season, he was critical of then-manager Matt Williams as the team skidded through the season and finished out of the running. At 37, Werth knows these chances are reaching the handful level pretty quickly.

"I feel like you don't truly understand until you get them taken away from you," Werth said. "As you get older, you get less and less opportunities. Not making it last year obviously brought the light that I'm not going to have too many of these chances left, so you don't want to take it for granted, but at the same time you just got to play baseball."

Today, he takes on left-hander Clayton Kershaw, a pitcher he has been able to hit. He is 10-for-32 (.313) against Kershaw in his career with two homers, four walks and two RBIs. Werth simplified the reason why he has been so good against such a quality pitcher.

"He's left-handed. I've hit lefties good," Werth said. "He's tough though. He's one of those guys that when he has his best stuff, he's tough to beat. We'll see what he's featuring. I know he's been injured this year and haven't seen him since. So will have to feel him out. Hopefully, we can get him out of there pretty quick."

Similar to the way Daniel Murphy attempts to dictate at-bats by slowing his practice swing motion in front of the starter, or by talking to the catcher and umpire during the at-bat, Werth always does a great job of staying in at-bats by fouling off pitches. This season he has hit second with the emergence of the contact-hitting speedster Trea Turner leading off since mid-season.

"I've hit throughout the lineup," Werth said. "I think with the personnel that we have, hitting me second at the time made a lot of sense. For whatever reason, Dusty (Baker) is a master of putting people in situations to succeed. It worked out for me and it helped our team get going."

If Turner is on base, will Werth will see more fastballs, making it easier to know what is coming?

"You still got to swing at strikes," Werth said. "Yes and no, I guess, is the answer to that question. If you are locked in, you can maybe get a fastball to hit because they are trying to worry about him, but if they feel like they got you, they don't have to throw you a strike. That goes for wherever you hit in the lineup. You got to settle in and be yourself."

And speaking of Turner, does Werth need to pass along any sage advice to the youngster?

"I feel like you don't have to say anything," Werth said. "You're either born to play at this time of year or you're not. I think Trea and the rest of the guys on our team, I think we got a team that is hungry and battle-tested. I don't think there's anything to say at this point."

But the most important thing Werth said Thursday was the first thing he said: The Nationals need to take it to the Dodgers if they are going to win this series, something they were unable to ultimately do against the Cardinals and the Giants.

"It's a five-game series, it's a short series, so I think aggression is key," Werth said.