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

When it comes to the lineups, the Dodgers will find themselves with plenty to handle when it comes to the lineup of the Astros or Yankees.  If the Yankees advance the Dodgers will have to keep Aaron Judge inside the ballpark.  The Yankees feature a sweet young yet powerful middle of the order with Aaron Judge, Gary Sanchez, and Didi Gregorius.  They also feature some solid veteran hitters like Brett Gardner, Todd Frazier, and Starlin Castro.  While Judge continues to whiff at a high rate he does have four home runs this post-season.  Gregorius and Sanchez both have three home runs this month so, between the 2-3-4 hitters of the Yankees, they have combined for ten home runs this post-season.

The Astros lineup would be no stroll in the park for the Dodgers either.  Jose Altuve has hit over .400 this post-season, and like Judge, he has four home runs.  Much like the Dodgers have Corey Seager, the Astros have another talented young shortstop in Carlos Correa. He has belted three home runs this post-season and is another dangerous hitter.  George Spring and Alex Bregman are another pair of Astro hitters who can turn on a fastball at any moment.  The weakest hitter in the lineup has been former Dodger Josh Reddick who has not yet recorded a hit in the ALCS.

Edge:  The Astros appear to have the advantage offensively.  While the Yankees have a ton of power, they strike out a ton, and against the Dodger pitching staff, they would fall victim to many strikeouts.  While strikeouts aren’t that big of a deal in today’s game, it is still hard to string together long rallies with a strikeout-prone lineup.  The Astros lineup will put the ball in play more, and Altuve is a threat to homer in each plate appearance.  The Astros hitters would make the Dodger pitching staff work extra hard to record outs.