Editorials

Dodgers/Mets NLDS Preview: Key Stats, Bench And Manager Comparison

Chase Utley, Kelly Johnson

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Bench

Catcher

For the Mets, Travis d’Arnaud is likely to get the nod behind the plate, leaving Kevin Plawecki as the backup. Plawecki played in 73 games, hitting .219 with three home runs and 21 RBIs. Seeing that teams usually keep their backup catchers on the bench unless an emergency, the rookie catcher likely won’t see much of the field.

On the other side, the Dodgers have two catchers on different paths. A.J. Ellis began the year in a major slump and has since heated up, but Yasmani Grandal has done the opposite. For most of the year, Grandal has started against right-handed pitchers; however, Don Mattingly could decide to use Ellis as the primary catcher because of his recent play. Either way, the Dodgers will have an All-Star catcher (Grandal) on the bench or one who is a .386 career hitter in the postseason (Ellis).

Advantage:Dodgers (Plawecki is a rookie that hasn’t hit well or thrown out baserunners well, while the Dodgers have a power threat in Grandal or a clutch performer in Ellis.)

Infielders

The Mets will be without infielder and former Dodger Juan Uribe, assuring that Kelly Johnson and Wilmer Flores/Ruben Tejada will more than likely be the extra infielders.

Flores started 96 games at shortstop and another 30 at second base, ending the year with 16 home runs and 59 RBIs while slashing .263/.295/.408. He could be the starting shortstop; however, strep throat caused him to lose about 10 pounds in recent weeks.

Ruben Tejada has success against Clayton Kershaw, giving him the start in Game 1 at least. Tejada hit .261 with three home runs in 116 games and is the better defensive option.

Johnson was acquired in June from the Atlanta Braves with Uribe. He has played second base a majority of the time, but he can play the other infield spots as well as the outfield. He hit .250 with six doubles and five home runs in 49 games. The veteran infielder has one hit in seven postseason at-bats.

The Dodgers will have one of, if not, the oldest infield bench in the playoffs with Chase Utley and Jimmy Rollins. It’s possible that Rollins may start in favor of Corey Seager, but recent comments from Mattingly and Rollins seem to point away from that. Also, if Joc Pederson makes a start in center field, Kiké Hernandez assumes the super utility role.

Utley followed his former double play partner, Rollins, to Los Angeles via trade in August. When Howie Kendrick went down with a hamstring strain, the Dodgers made the move for the veteran. He struggled at the plate with his new team, hitting .202 with three home runs in 34 games. The 36-year-old has postseason success, winning a World Series in 2008 with the Philadelphia Phillies. In 46 playoff games, he’s slashed .262/.402/.500 with 10 home run and 25 RBIs. He can play first base, second base and even made his debut at third base with the Dodgers.

The other former Phillies infielder on the Dodgers is Rollins, who was acquired in the offseason and spent most of the year as the team’s shortstop. He hit 13 home runs, but hit just .224 in 144 games. Top prospect Corey Seager took over when Rollins went down with a finger injury, although Mattingly hasn’t confirmed that will carry over to the postseason. The 36-year-old Rollins has hit .250 in 46 playoff games, stealing 11 bases and scoring 27 runs.

Advantage: Dodgers.(Flores/Tejada and Johnson each bring their own thing to the table; however, the fact that the Dodgers have two veterans with a World Series under their belt is beneficial.)

Outfielders

Uribe’s injury opened up a spot for outfielder Kirk Nieuwenheis to probably be the 25th man on the roster. Michael Cuddyer will be the primary left fielder with the Dodgers left-handed starters, meaning rookie Michael Conforto will come off the bench. Joining them will be defensive-minded center fielder Juan Lagares.

Lagares would be the starting center fielder had the Mets not acquired Yoenis Cespedes at the trade deadline. He slashed .259/.289/.358 with six home runs and 41 RBIs, but is a reigning Gold Glove outfielder. The young center fielder could see some time as late-inning defensive replacement.

The 22-year-old Conforto could see a start in Game 2 vs Zack Greinke, but will give way to the right-handed Cuddyer in the other games. In 56 games, the rookie outfielder hit .270 with nine home runs and 26 RBIs. He provides plus-defense in the outfield as well. Conforto will give the Mets a big bat off the bench or could even make his way into the game once the starting pitchers are out for the Dodgers.

Nieuwenhuis was designated for assignment by the Mets, joined the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and then rejoined the Mets after being designated for assignment again. He now finds himself on the brink of making the postseason roster. The left-handed hitter hit just .208 with four home runs in 62 games and his role won’t likely be more than pinch-hitter if needed.

Simply put, the Dodgers depth in the outfield is remarkable. They have five outfielders that would start for just about any other team in the Majors. It appears Yasiel Puig is healthy and he more than likely would assume his role in right field if true. Kiké Hernandez appears to have passed Joc Pederson as starting center fielder and that leaves Andre Ethier in left field due to the Mets right-handed heavy rotation. Carl Crawford appears to be the odd man out in the starting outfield. Scott Van Slyke will be out due to injury, leaving Justin Ruggiano as a possible extra outfielder.

If the Dodgers decide to take 14 position players, Ruggiano will be the last outfielder. The 33-year-old crushed left-handers since being acquired from the Seattle Mariners in August. He slashed .291/.350/.618 in 21 games, including .333/.388/.667 against left-handers. He could get a start if the series goes to Game 4 and left-hander Steven Matz starts, otherwise he will be a pinch-hitter; however, the Mets will probably only have one left-hander in the bullpen.

Crawford missed a few months with a torn oblique earlier in the season and sat down the stretch with a variety of small injuries. When healthy, Crawford can provide a solid bat with great speed on the bases. His defense is a bit shaky, but he makes most of the routine plays and his speed helps him get to balls that some wouldn’t be able to. The former All-Star has hit .305 with four home runs in the postseason as a Dodger. He very well could start should Puig come off the bench.

The last outfielder could also find himself in the starting lineup, but recent lineups show otherwise. Pederson started the year as a Rookie of the Year candidate, highlighted by his performance in the Home Run Derby, but things didn’t quite end so well for Pederson. He ended with 26 home runs and 54 RBIs; however, he batted just .210 with 170 strikeouts. The 23-year-old did walk 92 times. One thing that didn’t change all season was his defense. He’s outstanding on defense and that kept him in the lineup for most of the year, especially when Hernandez went down late in the year. Pederson could get the start in center, but it’s more than likely he’s relegated to pinch-hitter or defensive replacement.

Advantage: Dodgers (This is the Dodgers strength considering they can bring in a capable outfielder at any point of the game. Lagares is a game-changer on defense and Conforto can provide some power late in the game, but their chances to affect a game are slim.

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Vincent Samperio

Vince is currently the Associate Editor and Social Media Manager for Dodgers Nation. Hailing from San Pedro, CA and a student at Cal State Long Beach, Vince has previously written for the Daily 49er and LASF Magazine.

2 Comments

  1. Its simplistic but I believe it comes down to if the Dodgers can somehow manufacture some runs against a very strong young pitching staff. The Dodger Defense is very good, their pitching (starting 3) is very good and the BP has come around. To me the Mets and the Cubs are similar in that they are a year early. Most League watchers expected the Mets to be contenders next year and into the future with that pitching rotation. Good for them they are a year early and have a very good team. But looking at talent and experience I believe it will be Dodgers in 3 or 4.

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