Does anyone have advice on the importance of resting your Starting Pitchers , i.e, skipping starts, or for players that occassionally get down to 97-98% during the regular season leading up to the playoffs?

Or, do the playoffs allow you to start from scratch with a fully rested team?

The playoffs are treated as a continuation of the regular season. So yes, if you can afford to, rest any tired players that you have.

if a hitter is currently at 99-100% he probably doesnt need any rest, he'll get enough rest after the season and before the playoffs start. unless he is a parttime 400 PA sort of player. If you can afford to rest your best pitchers, rest them until they can pitch a game and not show much fatigue immediately after pitching. If they are 100% after pitching then any further rest is probably wasted.

Thanks all!

Pitchers under 100% give up HR much more often. The further from 100%, regardless if their in-game fatigue or pitch count is within limits, give up HR by the truckload. I learned this in my most recent CL. Been using a Hahn season with 3 RL HR in 315 IP and a HR+ of 159. He's given up 14 this season even with a 60 PC setting so even up to 90% he's not being overworked. He's likely to finish the season with 15+ HR given up.

CL are notorious HR light leagues with a ton of pitchers parks.