Dodgers: Comparing the Rosters of the Astros and Dodgers
The first and only two teams that have reached the 60 win mark are the Houston Astros and your Los Angeles Dodgers. Even more remarkable is that both achieved this point before the All-Star break. All these teams do is win, and that is why we may be seeing this clash of the titans come late October. Now let’s see how they match-up against each other.
These two teams are very similar in the sense that they are both dominating their respective leagues, yet not getting the media attention as other teams. In the American League, all anybody talks about is the Yankees and their emerging star Aaron Judge.
In the National League, just now are the Dodgers starting to get some more attention, but still, the majority of coverage has been on the Chicago Cubs struggling and Bryce Harper’s Washington Nationals.
So these two teams are somehow flying under-the-radar. Either way, these teams are putting together special seasons. They are similarly getting monster win totals, but they are doing it in different ways. The Astros have been road warriors this season, possessing the best record in MLB away from home. Meanwhile, the Boys in Blue have been riding that Dodger Stadium magic to the best record in the Bigs at home.
If the season ended today and both teams made the World Series, the Dodgers would have home field advantage. Knowing how well Houston plays on the road and how dominant the Dodgers are in Chavez Ravine, this would be an absolutely fantastic series. But without further or do, let’s dive into their position comparison.
First Base: Yuli Gurriel vs. Cody Bellinger
For those not familiar with the international free-agent market, Gurriel was amongst one of the most sought after talents after his defection from his native Cuba. The only problem was he defected a bit too late for anybody to take a huge risk. He is already 33 years of age and is playing in just his second season and his first as an everyday starter.
Gurriel stormed onto the radar of big league teams like many Cuban superstars do; through the World Baseball Classic. His flare and tools had teams chomping at the bit of having him on their roster. Teams spent years waiting for him to flee Cuba. He finally did and was in the bigs almost immediately. Now he is making an excellent contribution to a playoff team.
Cody Bellinger is now the starting first-baseman for the Dodgers. We’ve all heard the story, the Dodgers were struggling, and as soon as the rookie got called-up, the Dodgers went on a flurry. So there is no need for me to tell you how great of a player he is, but I’m going to tell you anyway because he is just so darn great.
Cody Bellinger is currently 3rd in the MLB in slugging percentage and 5th place of all the MLB with 26 home-runs despite missing the first three of weeks of the season. As predicted, he’s playing a remarkable first-base and, wait for it……just turned 22 years-old, and will only continue to get better.
Verdict
Despite how great Gurriel may have been 3-5 years ago, he is just not the same player and does not possess the tools that a younger Cody Bellinger has. He is an overlooked piece on the Astros, but he is important to the team’s success.
At this point, Cody is just flat out better than Gurriel at almost every facet of the game. Not to mention the fact that Cody somehow gets better when the game is on the line which makes his importance to the Dodgers that much more significant. The Dodgers take this one with the young stud Bellinger.
Los Angeles Dodgers lead 1-0
Second Base: Jose Altuve vs. Logan Forsythe
Whatever you do, please do not let Jose Altuve’s height fool you. All 5’6 of him makes up the best second baseman in the MLB. Seemingly impossible to get him out, you can pencil him in for a batting average well above .300 every year. This season he has a .353 AVG with a .420 OBP. A perennial All-Star and among one of the best players in all of baseball.
He is the sparkplug of the offense and the heart of this Houston team. With so much focus on his stick, many people forget that he is an elite defender at his position. Silky smooth with the glove and he may be one of the fastest players in the MLB which makes him even better on defense.
The second baseman for the Dodgers is Logan Forsythe. Well after the description I gave of Jose Altuve I can’t help but be underwhelmed by Logan. The Dodgers gave up a top prospect in Jose De Leon for the veteran second baseman in hopes that he would be a significant improvement to the position that haunted the Dodgers last year.
But at the beginning of the year, he looked like a bust. He has since turned his luck around offensively and has been a bit more reliable as of late. Hampered by a toe injury at the beginning of the year, which may have been the reason for his early struggles. During the month of June, he hit just .214, but this month he is hitting .300 and is looking more like the player the Dodgers thought they acquired.
Verdict:
So this position isn’t exactly what I would call a nail-biter. An MVP candidate vs. a struggling veteran, an above .300 hitter vs. someone struggling to hit above their weight for the first months of the season. Altuve takes this position in a landslide.
Houston, Tied 1-1
Shortstop: Carlos Correa vs. Corey Seager
The Puerto Rican shortstop Carlos Correa has a very similar build and skill-set to our very own Corey Seager. Tall but yet manages to be a great defender at one of the most difficult positions on the field. Many believe his future is at third base, but he continues to prove that he belongs at the shortstop position.
He is a Silver Slugger and will be a perennial All-Star for years to come. With him and Altuve, we will see a whole lot of that duo making starts in the All-Star game. Correa is another fan-favorite in Houston because of his Puerto Rican flare and “gusto.” Correa currently leads all shortstops in home runs, OBP, SLG, and OPS. But that doesn’t do him enough justice for what he means to this team. I said Altuve is the heart of this team, but Correa is the soul. That being said, this team took a huge hit when Correa had surgery in his left thumb that has him sidelined for 6 to 8 weeks.
Corey Seager is perhaps the best position player on the Dodgers. After winning the NL ROY last season and finishing in the top 3 in the MVP voting last season, many thought he would experience a sophomore slump like many other players have experienced. But he is no ordinary player; he is Corey Seager. Personally, I don’t even know if he is human. He may be a robot with how little emotion he shows on the field and just goes about his business.
Corey Seager is near the top statistically in every category among shortstops right behind Correa. Not to mention his mere presence in the lineup can create opportunities for others in the lineup. Not afraid to let his teammates perform, he leads all shortstops with 50 walks showing how much of a team guy he is.
Verdict:
This is by far the hardest position to decide the winner. This new wave of shortstops with Correa, Seager, Lindor, and Bogaerts are all going to be a sight to watch. So at this point just sit back and enjoy the show that these young guns are going to put on. Correa vs. Seager. I can’t seem to take a side because both are so great and are relatively even. This is why the shortstop position will be ruled a draw and both will earn a point.
Draw, Tied 2-2
Third Base: Alex Bregman vs. Justin Turner
Alex Bregman is the young starting third baseman for the Astros. At just 23-years-old, he is in his second year with the big club. He was a part of the USA roster during the World Baseball Classic. This showed how high expectations were for him. He is another future piece to this already excellent team.
He sits currently with eight home runs this season, which is the same amount he had last year, but this season he has played in over double the amount of games that he had played in all of the last season. His power numbers have taken a slight dip, but his average is almost identical. Bregman still has some growing to do as a player, but the future is bright because of his potential.
Justin Turner is an MVP candidate, and I don’t care what anybody else tells me. He is hitting right around .370 and has close to a .500 on-base percentage which is almost video game-like. He leads all third basemen in AVG, OBP, and OPS. He provides protection for Corey Seager and Cody Bellinger. He is also a clutch hitter and gets hits in big moments.
Along with that, Turner has become an elite defender. He is often over looked because of the bigger names at the position like Arenado, Bryant, and Machado; but he deserves to be mentioned alongside them as one of the top third basemen in the league this past couple of seasons. The reason he isn’t is that he was a late bloomer and people don’t give him the respect he deserves.
Verdict:
For the time being this is a no contest. Turner runs away with this position for the Boys in Blue. But in the future, this discussion can and will be very different depending on the development of Alex Bregman in Houston. Justin Turner is currently leaps and bounds ahead of Bregman, and his unbelievable stats solidify that fact.
Los Angeles, Dodgers lead 3-2
Catcher: Evan Gattis vs. Yasmani Grandal
The Astros do have a platoon going on behind the dish. But for the sake of this, we will be using Evan Gattis as the starting catcher because of the lefty heavy rotation that the Dodgers have. That means in a series Gattis will have the majority of starts as he has played better than Brian McCann this season. In just about equal games, Gattis has a better average.
Gattis, if given the at-bats, will give you above 20 home runs and be a force in the middle of the lineup. Just his mere presence in the batter’s box is frightening. Standing in there with no batting gloves and his big hefty body. Evan Gattis in the lineup makes the Astros even deeper from a power stand point.
Yasmani Grandal started off the season white-hot hitting above .300 while maintaining his power numbers, but has cooled off since that start. But this comes as no surprise to anyone. Not because people don’t believe in his talent but because he is playing the most physically demanding position in baseball, so regression, as the season goes on, is natural at that position.
But even if his batting average isn’t going to be all that high he will still be a primary power source for the Dodgers. He also is one of the best defensive catchers in baseball, consistently being called the best pitch framer around. His ability to do this helps the already great pitching staff of the Dodgers. That combo of power and defense makes him oh so valuable to the team.
Verdict:
Grandal is a top-tier catcher in the MLB. He is both defensively excellent and offensively sound. Gattis is a nice option behind the dish but is not quite at the same level defensively as Grandal. “YazMoney” is also another Dodger that steps up to the plate when the game is on the line. So Grandal and the Dodgers get the nod here.
Los Angeles, Dodgers lead 4-2
Outfield:
The Astros have a plethora of options in the outfield. George Springer, Josh Reddick, Nori Aoki, Marwin Gonzalez, Jake Marisnick and Carlos Beltran. Springer is the man who is a staple in the lineup and part of the three-headed monster that Houston has at the top of the lineup in Springer, Altuve, and Correa.
Springer has had a breakout year hitting above .300 with 27 home runs. He is the table-setter for this lineup and is having a phenomenal year. Dodger fans are familiar with Reddick as he was with the team last year for a brief stint. He is hitting above .300 and playing great defense for the Astros in right field. Marwin Gonzalez has played great this year and has been hitting the cover off the ball, so when you pair that with his ability to play anywhere on the field, it’s not difficult to see his value. Carlos Beltran has not seen much time on the field but still gets AB’s as a DH but has not been very good this season.
The Dodgers current outfield consists of Chris Taylor, Joc Pederson, and Yasiel Puig. All three provide different assets to the team, but all three are very important to the Dodgers. But along with that trio, Kike Hernandez is another outfielder who gets a good amount of playing time at all three outfield spots.
Taylor has been a pleasant surprise, putting up career numbers and adjusting nicely to his newfound outfield position. Joc struggled early on but has also shown flashes of greatness over the last month-plus. Significant inconsistencies on offense are often masked by his power and defense which make him a mainstay in the lineup. Yasiel Puig has had a great year, hitting a lot of home runs from the eighth spot in the lineup and adding much-needed depth to the lineup, along with the best right-field defense around.
Verdict:
A breakout year from George Springer is a sight to see. Springer and company will take the outfield position simply because of how great he has been. The streakiness of the Dodgers makes them super inconsistent on offense from the outfield position. Meanwhile, the Astros have Springer, Gonzalez, and Reddick having great offensive seasons.
Houston, Dodgers lead 4-3
Starting Rotation:
Any team with the type of season that Houston is having must have a starting rotation performing at its best. The Astros have a legitimate ace in Dallas Keuchel. Lance McCullers Jr. has been great this season and has been the glue for the rotation which has suffered two critical injuries to Keuchel and McHugh.
Before going down, Keuchel was 9-0 with a 1.67 ERA and was showing why he is a CY Young award winner. The 23-year-old McCullers has solidified himself as the number two starter in a postseason series. When healthy, Collin McHugh can be a nice option as your third starter. To round out the rotation, they have veterans Mike Fiers and Charlie Morton who provide experience to a young team.
The Dodgers’ pitching this year had some questions before the year started. But it seems as though most, if not all, of these issues, have been answered by outstanding performances. One thing nobody was questioning was the ability of Clayton Kershaw, and he has been fantastic to the surprise of nobody.
The best pitcher in the world is the ace of the staff, and that’s Clayton KershGod, but nobody knew who his second fiddle would be. That was until Alex Wood came in guns a blazing earning his spot as the number two starter and should be under consideration for the Cy Young Award.
Rich Hill is the third starter and is great if blisters aren’t hampering him. Brandon McCarthy started strong and hopefully will continue that. Last season’s number three starter, Kenta Maeda, is now the number five, showing the depth of this team. Kenta Maeda has had a roller coaster of a year with ups and downs a plenty.
Verdict:
Here is a disclaimer: Houston’s ace is on the DL at the moment. The Astros could very well add some significant pieces before the deadline and pass the Dodgers. But for now, the Dodgers take the starting rotation. Two Cy Young candidates will do that. Rich Hill proved he could be dominant when healthy and this Dodger rotation can be scary when all five are.
Los Angeles, Dodgers Lead 5-3
Bullpen
The Astros bullpen is anchored at the end by two nice pieces. Luke Gregerson and Ken Giles. Not to be overlooked is Chris Devenski who has been great this season. I’m going to continue to repeat myself by saying having a reliable bullpen in the playoffs can make or break a team.
The Astros have just that. They can hold leads for the club and get the ball to closer Ken Giles who currently has 20 saves. Chris Devenski has been terrific this season holding opponents to a .162 average against him and WHIP below one. The one thing Houston is lacking is a reliable left-handed reliever who can come in and get one or more outs against left-handed batters.
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For the Dodgers, they have one job and one job only: Get the ball to Kenley Jansen with a lead. They have done that this season and Kenley has not disappointed in the slightest. Kenley has 62 strikeouts and just two walks. Just think about that for a second. Hitters know that he is going to throw a strike and they still can’t hit his cutter.
Kenley has been spectacular and deserves all the praise he is receiving, but with him there that makes Dodger fans underappreciate the others in that bullpen. Especially Pedro Baez who has been brilliant this year. He has a 1.60 ERA and has only allowed seven earned runs in 40 appearances. Along with Baez, there is Josh Fields, Brandon Morrow and Ross Stripling who have all done their due diligence and deserve to be recognized for their seasons.
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Verdict
Any team that has a closer who will end the game is game-changing. The Dodgers this season seemingly do not lose games that they are leading. The bullpen is the main reason for this. Kenley continues to pitch with a chip on his shoulder and to make things even scarier; the Dodgers are looking to add another weapon, whether it be Brad Hand or Zach Britton, another star bullpen piece would solidify them as the best bullpen in baseball, yes even over the New York Yankees. This is why the Dodgers take the bullpen.
Los Angeles, Dodgers win 6-3