After reviewing how the pitching staffs of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Arizona Diamondbacks compare, now it’s time to review each team’s position players.
Arizona scored 32 more runs and stole 26 more bases, but the Dodgers actually had a slight edge in home runs (221 to 220) and a significant edge in wRC+ (104 to 95) thanks to Chase Field’s park factor. Defensively, the Dodgers were second in all of baseball with a +48 Defensive Runs Saved, while the Diamondbacks ranked 17th with +5.
At catcher, the Dodgers have two of the best backstops in the business. Yasmani Grandal was inconsistent at the plate this season, but still managed to post a 2.5 WAR (FanGraphs) and club 22 home runs. Austin Barnes was a revelation, leading all catchers who logged at least 250 plate appearances in wRC+ at 142.
Chris Iannetta had a surprisingly strong season for Arizona, posting a 120 wRC+ and a 2.2 fWAR. The rest of the catchers on the Arizona roster didn’t produce much. Jeff Mathis is a strong framer but didn’t hit, while Chris Herrmann clubbed 10 homers but didn’t add much defensive value behind the plate.
Advantage: Dodgers
Los Angeles was hoping for a solid if unspectacular season out of Adrian Gonzalez before he went down with injury. Up came Cody Bellinger, who produced a 4.0 fWAR season and is a lock to give the Dodgers a second straight Rookie of the Year.
Their depth is weak, but Bellinger hits lefties so they really don’t need anyone else. Arizona responds with one of the best first basemen in all of baseball.
Paul Goldschmidt, who was originally drafted by the Dodgers in 2006 but did not sign, has established himself as one of the most consistently productive players in the game for the past half-decade. He’s coming off a 5.3 fWAR campaign, the third-highest mark of his career.
Advantage: Diamondbacks
Second base was a void that was supposed to be filled by offseason acquisition Logan Forsythe. However, after posting a 113 wRC+ with 20 home runs in 2016, Forsythe’s power disappeared. He has hit lefties very well and been able to get on base.
Forsythe also adds value with his glove. Chase Utley was productive as a part-time player, though his arm strength hinders his defensive value. Barnes also gets occasional starts at second.
The D-Backs haven’t fared well, with Brandon Drury and Daniel Descalso struggling to produce offensively, averaging 90 wRC+ between them. Drury has been above average defensively at second.
Advantage: Dodgers
After his Rookie of the Year campaign, big things were expected from Corey Seager. He struggled in May, but hit well through the All-Star break before an elbow injury caused his production to dip. He finished the season on a down note but still managed a 5.7 fWAR season, good for 12th in MLB.
The Jean Segura trade seemed like a canny move by Diamondbacks general manager Mike Hazen, as Taijuan Walker addressed a hole in their rotation. He also picked up Ketel Marte, who’s taken over as the starter at shortstop.
Marte hasn’t produced much with the bat or with his feet, but he’s been good with the glove. Backups Chris Owings and Nick Ahmed are both on the disabled list.
Advantage: Dodgers
I was as surprised as anyone when the Dodgers re-signed Justin Turner last offseason and so far, the deal looks like a steal. The veteran competed for the batting title until the very end of the year and ended up hitting .322 with a 151 wRC+ to go along with excellent defense. Turner finished 14th overall with a 5.5 fWAR.
Jake Lamb broke out last season when he clubbed 29 homers and did one better in 2017 by mashing an even 30. However, defensive metrics did not treat him well and he struggled mightily against lefties.
Advantage: Dodgers
Left field was Andrew Toles’ to lose to begin the year. Unfortunately, a torn ACL cost him the season and his chance to hold down the position for at least 2017, if not longer. The Dodgers sent a dozen players out there and seem to have settled on a platoon of Curtis Granderson and Kiké Hernandez.
Granderson has struggled since joining the club but has a 114 wRC+ against right-handers this year. Hernandez has crushed lefties and produced a ridiculous +6 DRS in just 122.2 innings in left field.
David Peralta spent most of his season in right field before J.D. Martinez was acquired prior to the non-waiver trade deadline. Peralta has been solid this season, with a 1.8 fWAR and solid defense.
Yasmany Tomas is out for the year with a groin injury. Gregor Blanco could continue to terrorize Los Angeles if given the opportunity.
Advantage: Diamondbacks
Joc Pederson was looking to improve on a strong 2016, in which he produced a 3.6 fWAR and a 128 wRC+. He struggled early but hit his stride in June and was a great hitter for the middle months before falling off a cliff in August and being demoted to Triple-A Oklahoma City to fix his swing.
Luckily, Chris Taylor stepped in to fill the void in a breakout year in which he posted a 126 wRC+ and a 4.7 fWAR overall.
After a freak injury cost him most of the 2016 season, A.J. Pollock came back with a solid year in which he hit 14 home runs and stole 20 bases in 2017. He also was worth seven runs on defense according to DRS.
Advantage: Dodgers
A tumultuous 2016 for Yasiel Puig faced a make or break 2017 season. He responded well, clubbing a career-high 28 home runs and played Gold-Glove caliber defense. However, a late-season baserunning blunder led to a benching and now Puig must, once again, work his way out of the doghouse.
When Arizona acquired Martinez, the consensus seemed to be that they got a steal. Then he hit 29 homers in 62 games. That’s simply ridiculous.
Advantage: Diamondbacks
The bench composition should be interesting for the Dodgers. They went with six bench players in last year’s Division Series and could do so again in 2017. Barnes, Utley and Hernandez are locks.
Kyle Farmer could free up Grandal and Barnes to come in as pinch-hitters and he could serve that role against lefties for a predominantly left-handed bench. Andre Ethier showed enough at the end of the year to serve as a pinch-hitter. Tim Locastro could be the burner the Dodgers have considered using for the past few years.
Arizona carried three catchers in the Wild Card Game and could do so again, with Chris Herrmann’s ability to play the outfield an added asset. Adam Rosales hit a pair of homers against the Dodgers in just 20 plate appearances. Blanco and Rey Fuentes give them some depth and speed in the outfield.
Advantage: Dodgers
While the Diamondbacks have a few players who can do a lot of damage, namely Goldschmidt and Martinez, the Dodgers have a deeper lineup, a deeper bench and a much better defense.
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