Dodgers: Three Dodgers who could be postseason x-factors

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SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – SEPTEMBER 29: Will Smith #16 of the Los Angeles Dodgers hits a two-run home run in the top of the first inning against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park on September 29, 2019 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images) /

Will Smith – X-factor in the lineup

.158/.235/.224 and .107/.264/.200. Those are the career playoff slash lines for Austin Barnes and Yasmani Grandal over the last four years of the postseason. While Barnes and Grandal had their moments, they were largely non-factors offensively for the Dodgers and Yasmani was so bad defensively that he got bench in last year’s World Series run.

Will Smith will enter the 2019 postseason as the Dodgers’ starting catcher and despite a September slump, he hit well in the last week of the regular season, including an 107 MPH line drive home run in the series finale. Smith has as much pop as anyone in LA’s lineup and even if he only records a few hits in a series they could be game changing blows. He is a true home run threat every at-bat.

Defensively Will Smith can impact a game as well with his quick pop time and strong arm but his biggest impact will likely be his power bat. He will likely hit in the 8th spot in the order and helps lengthen a potent Dodger lineup. While all eyes with be on Dodger sluggers such as Cody Bellinger, Justin Turner, and Max Muncy, Smith is a big power threat at the bottom of the lineup.