Dodgers vs. Cubs: Position by Position Matchup Breakdown

Catcher: Wilson Contreras vs. Yasmani Grandal/Austin Barnes

Wilson Contreras (5 starts): .214/.300/.333 (3-14), 1 Home Run, 1 RBI

Yasmani Grandal (1 start): .000/.000/.000 (0-4), 2 strikeouts

Austin Barnes (2 starts): .500/.556/1.000 (4-8), 1 Home Run, 1 Double, 3 RBI

By the numbers, the edge here goes to the Dodgers with Austin Barnes leading the others in hits, RBI, and total bases. The issue here is that Roberts hasn’t fully committed to Barnes as the starting catcher. Barnes closed out the series by starting the final two games, but it remains to be seen if Roberts continues to roll with the hot hand.

Grandal has been the Dodgers catcher for the last three seasons. He’s known as one of the better all-around catchers in the league but has failed to put it all together with the Dodgers. Grandal is a tale of two hitters. When he’s hot, he’s white hot, but when he’s cold, he’s ice cold. Right now he’s ice cold, collecting on 7 hits in his last 34 at-bats (.205). Roberts has no room to play favorites here. He needs to roll with Barnes’ hot hand and continue to do what’s best for the team.

Contreras is a big part of the Cubs’ lineup. He hits 4th behind Anthony Rizzo and is one of their main sources of power. His flaw is his high number of strikeouts, like many power hitters in today’s game. In a way, he’s very much like a younger Yasmani Grandal with his big bat upside but not a true .300 hitter. He always brings a powerful presence at the plate, so Dodger pitchers better not take him lightly.

Verdict:

Contreras is one of the best young catchers in the league right along Salvador Perez, so maybe this is just me being a homer, but I say the edge goes to the Dodgers here. I say Dodgers with the stipulation that Barnes is the everyday catcher in this series as Grandal has been far too inconsistent. I feel Barnes’ approaches at the plate are better suited for the Dodgers’ lineup than Contreras’ big swing variance.