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Dodgers Nats Position-by-Position Breakdown

By Alex Campos

September 22, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Yasmani Grandal (9) is greeted by shortstop Corey Seager (5), first baseman Adrian Gonzalez (23) and right fielder Yasiel Puig (66) after hitting a grand slam home run in the seventh inning against the Colorado Rockies at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
September 22, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Yasmani Grandal (9) is greeted by shortstop Corey Seager (5), first baseman Adrian Gonzalez (23) and right fielder Yasiel Puig (66) after hitting a grand slam home run in the seventh inning against the Colorado Rockies at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 25, 2016; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Washington Nationals pinch hitter Jayson Werth (28) circles the bases on a two run pinch hit home run against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the eighth inning at PNC Park. The Nationals won 10-7. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 25, 2016; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Washington Nationals pinch hitter Jayson Werth (28) circles the bases on a two run pinch hit home run against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the eighth inning at PNC Park. The Nationals won 10-7. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /

Left Field: Andrew Toles vs Jayson Werth

Shoutout to the Dodgers, who waited until I finished this 3,000 word slideshow to announce that Howie Kendrick wouldn’t start game one in left.

Instead of the veteran, Andrew Toles will get the start in left. Tolsey was phenomenal in a small sample this season with a 1.7 WAR and 132 wRC+ in 115 plate appearances. Not only is Toles a solid bat in the lineup, but his arm is a major tool out in left and he brings a speed factor that the Dodgers don’t really have.

However, based on the matchups, Werth gets the advantage. He was pretty league-average overall, but his numbers against lefties are insane. The Dodgers will have one game started by a righty in the series (unless Ross Stripling gets a start, which he won’t). This season, Werth slashed .322/.411/.620 in 141 plate appearances against lefties, which gave him a 172 wRC+, the seventh-highest in baseball.

In a vacuum, this is probably a push. Factor in the matchups, it’s gotta be in favor of the Nats.

Advantage: Nationals

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