Dodgers vs. Astros: World Series Infield Comparison

It’s exciting times for the city of Los Angeles right now. The Lakers and Clippers season has just tipped off. The Rams and the Chargers are in mid-season form, and hockey is also in the background. But most importantly, the Dodgers are in the World Series for the first time since 1988.

The Dodgers are set to face off against the Houston Astros tomorrow at 5:08 pacific time. This is the first World Series for the Dodgers since 1988 and the first World Series for the Astros since 2005. Both teams had tremendous regular seasons, eclipsing over 100 wins. In fact, the two sides are the first pair of 100-win teams to meeting in the championship since 1970. We indeed have a Fall Classic on our hands this year.

The Astros were our desired opponent for the Dodgers. That by no means is a knock on the Astros because they are a great team. But this Dodger team just looks like they can out manage this club.

The Astros are similarly built on youth and a sprinkle of veteran leadership, headlined by the AL MVP front-runner, Jose Altuve. The Astros, like the Dodgers, went all in this season by making a big trade to bolster their starting rotation and traded for Justin Verlander after he cleared waivers.

During the July 31st deadline, the Astros’ front office was criticized for sitting tight at the trade deadline. Ace starter Dallas Keuchel was disappointed, to say the least by the way management had handled the situation. That notion quickly changed after the front office traded three prospects for their secondary ace Justin Verlander.

https://twitter.com/SInow/status/892525790637764609

Verlander has been a vital part to the Astros success this season, and now the Astros look to ride him and Keuchel to their first World Championship.

Statistically, the Astros ranked first in the league in runs scored (896), batting average (.282), on-base percentage (.346), slugging percentage (.478), and hits (1581) during the regular season. They maintained that style of play this postseason averaging four runs per game and leading the league in hits (89). Let’s see how their starting infield stacks up against the Dodgers’ starters.

Brian McCann vs. Austin Barnes 

Brian McCann (.156/.270./219) 2 Doubles, 5 RBI

Austin Barnes (.261/.370/.435) 1 Double, 1 HR, 3 RBI

This position could very well turn out to be a platoon spot for both teams. The Astros have a veteran combination of Brian McCann and Evan Gattis that provides a lot of power, but a lot of swing and miss potential. The Dodgers could, in theory, go back to a catcher platoon with Austin Barnes struggling in the NLCS.

The Astros will likely go with McCann as their primary catcher on the road, where they will not have the DH. McCann has played in 23 postseason games in his career and had a career .177 average in October. He occasionally can run into a ball and drive it out of the park, but he strikes out a decent amount (16% during regular season). He’s had ten seasons which he hit more than 20 home runs during the regular season but only has three career postseason home runs, all coming in his tenure with the Braves.

Gattis is similarily profiled as McCann, He’s not a true hitter for average but can put the ball in the seats. Gattis is a reverse splits guy. He has a slash line of .272/.323/.460 against right-handers, and a .241/.280/.448 slash line against left-handers. Those splits aren’t drastic, but they’re important to know while watching the games.

Austin Barnes struggled severely in the NLCS. Barnes only collected two hits in 15 at-bats against the Cubs and reopened the question of who should be the Dodgers starting catcher. Barnes started all but one game in the NLCS as should still be the guy to beat after a breakout regular season and huge NLDS.

Grandal only had four plate appearances in the NLCS. He got on-base three times and helped turn over the lineup for the Dodgers. Roberts could very well open the door for a platoon spot, which would mean Grandal starting versus righties. But the Astros have hard-throwing right-handers, and Barnes has a better pitch value against fastballs than Grandal (Barnes 1.16 vs. Grandal -.073)

Edge: Dodgers – Assuming Barnes gets the majority of starts at catcher, the Dodgers have the advantage here. Barnes and Grandal are a lot younger and provide more stability on the defensive end than McCann or Gattis. Barnes does have stolen base upside, which is a bonus.

Yuli Gurriel vs. Cody Bellinger

Yuli Gurriel (.366/.409/.512) 4 Doubles, 1 Triple, 4 RBI

Cody Bellinger (.278/.316/.500)  2 Doubles, 2 Home Runs, 4 RBI

Yuli Gurriel is absolutely tearing the cover off the ball this postseason. Gurriel leads all players this postseason in average exit velocity with a 93.8 MPH average velocity. He’s first in the postseason in hard-hit balls with 18. He’s second on the team in hits behind the AL MVP front-runner Jose Altuve with 15. He has yet to hit a homer this October, but he had 18 during the regular season. During the regular season Gurriel hit almost 60 points better against right-handers than left-handers, so he’s another reverse splits guy. He’s some the Dodgers have to be careful with this World Series.

Cody Bellinger’s numbers in the NLCS are better than the NLDS, so there are encouraging signs for Dave Roberts. Bellinger had seven hits in the NLCS and hit a home run against the Cubs. An aspect of Bellinger’s game that doesn’t get much talk is his defense. Bellinger has played stellar defense all postseason long and will continue to make plays on the diamond to give the Dodgers an edge.

Edge: Dodgers – Bellinger is the all around better talent at this position. Gurriel is white hot right now so if you want to make the argument that he’s streaking higher, good for you. Bellinger can always change the complexion of a game whenever he steps into the batter’s box. Let’s not forget that Cody has ten hits and the power to make any stadium look small, let alone that short wall in right field in Houston.

Jose Altuve vs. Logan Forsythe

Jose Altuve (.400/.500/.775) 5 Home Runs 8 RBI

Logan Forsythe (.316/.458/.368) 1 Double, 3 RBI

Jose Altuve is turning into the best pure hitter in today’s game. He’s followed up a season which he hit .346 with a postseason of a .400 batting average. He’s not only making contact; he’s sending the ball over the wall with five home runs (more than any other player this postseason). Not much needs to be said about Altuve that you don’t already know. He’s a pesky hitter that has power and speed.

Logan Forsythe presumably becomes the almost everyday starter at this point. Chase Utley is struggling to have good at-bats at the plate, and the Dodgers are going to need their best offense on the field to keep up with the Astros. Utley has yet to pick up a hit this postseason. With the emergence of Charlie Culberson in the NLCS, I really don’t think Roberts should continue to roll out Ultey anymore.

Edge: Astros – There’s no argument that you could spin to give the Dodgers an advantage here. Altuve may be the best hitter in baseball and is showing that no stage is too big for his 5 foot 6 stature.

Alex Bregman vs. Justin Turner

Alex Bregman (.190/.244/.381) 2 Home Runs, 2 Doubles, 5 RBI

Justin Turner (.387/.500/.677) 3 Home Runs, 12 RBI

Alex Bregman is an excellent infielder. He was one of the Astros top prospects with Carlos Correa and has been as advertised for the Astros. The problem is that he’s inconsistent. He’s a streaky hitter and is on the wrong side of that streak if you’re the Astros. He’s got a tremendous amount of upside so I wouldn’t take him lightly. But the truth is, with a lineup that has Bregman, Altuve, Springer, and Correa, you’re forced to pick your poison. I expect Roberts to challenge him the most out of that bunch.

Justin Turner is doing everything in his power to drive the Dodgers to their first championship in 29 years. It’s going to be great to watch two professional hitters like Altuve and Turner face off against each other this World Series. The Dodgers are going to need Turner to keep up his hot postseason to win this series. Turner leads the team in RBI, and it’s not even close.

Edge: Dodgers – The potential for Bregman to do damage is there. But there’s no better Dodger hitter right now than Justin Turner.