Dodgers: Which AL Team Do the Dodgers Match Up Best With?

When it comes to the starting rotations of the Astros and Yankees, they share a common theme which is that both clubs acquired a starting pitcher that the Dodgers were rumored to have interest in at some point this season.  The Astros acquired Verlander in a waiver deadline deal while the Yankees traded for Sonny Gray in a non-waiver trade deadline deal.  Both starters have had success with their new teams, but Verlander has had more post-season success this season.

The Astros potential World Series rotation figures to have Dallas Keuchel, Justin Verlander, Lance McCullers, and Charlie Morton.  While Keuchel and Verlander would most likely be very tough against the Dodgers, the Dodgers have faced a similar 1-2 lefty-righty punch in Zack Greinke and Robbie Ray.  Morton and McCullers both have been good when healthy, but both were plagued by injuries this season and are not as battle-tested in the post-season, let alone the World Series.  Verlander has been lights out this post-season boasting an ERA close to 1.00.

The Yankees potential World Series rotation would be Masahiro Tanaka, Luis Severino, Sonny Gray, and CC Sabathia.  While Sabathia is getting older and no longer throws in the mid-nineties, he is still a savvy veteran who knows how pitch and has posted a 2.30 ERA in three post-season starts.  Tanaka has been virtually un-hittable with an ERA under one, and while Severino has an ERA over five, that is due to his disastrous AL Wild Card start where he was lit up while recording only one out.

Edge:  The Yankees boast the better rotation overall.  While the Astros are top heavy with Keuchel and Verlander, they are beatable after that with McCullers and Morton.  The Yankees throw out three veteran starters who know how to pitch in the post-season, and they also feature a young flamethrower, Luis Severino.  Severino throws in the upper 90’s consistently like Verlander does and also features a wipeout slider that is faster than Rich Hill’s fastball.