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Dodgers Preview: World Series position breakdown, who’s got the edge?

via NBC New York

LOS ANGELES, CA — The Los Angeles Dodgers are moving on to the World Series for the first time since 2020 and will face off against the New York Yankees for the twelfth time in the Fall Classic. With game one set to start on Friday, that gives us plenty of time to break down the two teams position by position.

Catcher

Offensively, Dodgers catcher Will Smith has struggled from the second half of the season until now, and those demons have followed him into the postseason as well. However, where Smith shined this season was his ability to hold runners on while also being an instrumental part of the pitch calling this October, getting praise from Walker Buehler after game three of the NLCS and the entire bullpen.

However, despite his struggles, there is still more to bet on in terms of offense for Will Smith than Yankees catcher Austin Wells, who has struggled in both the regular and postseason.

DODGERSBEAT VERDICT: Edge to Dodgers

First Base

A few years ago, in the National League, you could’ve had a debate between Freeman and Rizzo on who the best first baseman was. Now, even with a bum ankle, the clear winner here is Freeman, who finished third in National League MVP voting last season and, despite a down 2024 regular season, had a 134 wRC+.

Over the last two seasons, Rizzo has battled inconsistencies and the injury bug, and for a point in time, it did not look like he would be the Yankees’ primary first baseman come October. He has hit well with a .429 batting average in his opportunities, but I’d still bet on a rested Freddie to be good to go by Friday.

DODGERSBEAT VERDICT: Edge to Dodgers

Second Base

It is about as even as you can get when comparing Gavin Lux and Gleyber Torres; if you had them swapped jerseys, you’d be getting the same player profile.

Both players have had an up-and-down tenure with their team, and despite Lux’s terrible first half, the lefty managed to rebound and play well above average down the stretch. Defensively, both are average, but where Torres can overtake Lux is that he is healthy while Lux is dealing with a hip flexor injury.

DODGERSBEAT VERDICT: Slight Edge to Yankees

Third Base

Since his return to the Dodgers lineup, Max Muncy has been one of the most valuable hitters on the team, slotting in the middle or the bottom third of the order. This postseason, Muncy has been even better, including having a streak of reaching base in twelve straight plate appearances. Defensively, Muncy is slightly below average but has made huge strides since becoming the full-time third baseman in 2022.

The Yankees struggled to get production out of the third base position, which prompted the team to trade for Chisholm at the deadline, slotting him at third base while the Miami Marlins had him in center field. Chisholm has been a solid addition to the Yankees lineup but does not pose the same threat that Muncy does with the bat, with the ability to change the game with one swing (or walk).

DODGERSBEAT VERDICT: Slight Edge to Dodgers

Shortstop

There was great expectation put on Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe’s shoulders to take over as the everyday shortstop. The once highly regarded prospect has yet to live up to expectations but has been solid enough not to warrant overreaction from the Yankees fanbase.

However, the 2024 postseason is the year of Tommy Edman. Edman has always been an elite defender with excellent baseball skills but has taken off to a new level since joining the Dodgers. Edman, the NLCS MVP, tied a Dodgers franchise record with eleven RBI in a single postseason series and has shown no signs of slowing down as we approach the World Series.

DODGERSBEAT VERDICT: Slight Edge to Dodgers

Left Field

It will be a homecoming for Yankees left fielder Alex Verdugo, who was traded away by Los Angeles in the deal that brought all-star and 2018 American League Most Valuable Player Award winner Mookie Betts to Southern California. However, in his first season in Yankee pinstripes, it could have gone better, as he was below league average with an 83 wRC+.

For Teoscar Hernández, it has been one of the best one-year deals a player can ask for. The right-handed slugger started the all-star game, won the home run derby, had a tremendous rebound season offensively, and despite an 0-for-18 stretch in the NLCS, was a massive part of why the Dodgers are here, hitting a solo home run in game five of the NLDS.

DODGERSBEAT VERDICT: Edge to Dodgers

Center Field

  • Dodgers: Kiké Hernández (.229/.281/.491)(.303/.378/.485)
  • Yankees: Aaron Judge (.322/.458/.701)(.161/.317/.387)

Despite being labeled as the new Mr. October due to his continued postseason dominance, Kiké Hernández does not hold a candle to what Aaron Judge brings to the table as the 2024 likely American League Most Valuable Player is one of the multiple stars to appear in this epic World Series matchup.

While Judge has struggled much of his postseason career, his offensively and defensive talent cannot be overshadowed and will likely come up big in this series more times than not.

DODGERSBEAT VERDICT: Edge to Yankees

Right Field

  • Dodgers: Mookie Betts (.289/.372/.491)(.295/.404/.659)
  • Yankees: Juan Soto (.288/.419/.569)(.333/.439/.667)

Of all the position breakdowns, this one is by far the hardest, as we are likely looking at the two best right-fielders in baseball. Mookie Betts has shown his value offensively, finishing runner-up in the 2023 NL MVP race and being the 2024 frontrunner if it weren’t for a June broken wrist injury that forced him to miss nearly two months of the season.

However, Betts never skipped a beat and still turned in a great 2024 season while moving all around the baseball diamond. However, when compared to 25-year-old Juan Soto, the edge has to go to the Yankees here.

Soto has been everything the Yankees asked for when paired with Aaron Judge. Despite Betts’s great postseason, Juan Soto’s has been better, and the lefty hit a clutch go-ahead three-run bomb to send the Yankees to the World Series.

DODGERSBEAT VERDICT: Edge to Yankees

Designated Hitter

Despite Stanton turning into Babe Ruth this October, there is no player on the Yankees other than maybe Aaron Judge who is better than Shohei Ohtani, who set multiple records in his first year with the Dodgers and is a massive reason why they’ve gotten over the hump after back-to-back first year exits. Now, all that remains is whether we will see him pitch this series.

DODGERSBEAT VERDICT: Edge to Dodgers

Bench

There is a chance that, given the health and matchups, both benches could change, but for the most part, both teams are even in this regard. The Dodgers excel on the defensive side, with veteran outfielder Kevin Kiermaier in center field and the ability to plug and play Chris Taylor in the outfield or infield.

Offensively, Andy Pages has been swinging a hot bat and has a 157 wRC+ off lefties this season and could be someone who starts or pinch hits off the bench versus a lefty pitcher.

DODGERSBEAT VERDICT: Draw

Starting Rotation

While the Dodgers’ starting rotation was miles better in the NLCS than the NLDS, unlike the Yankees, they lack depth.

The Dodgers have made it work with just three starters so far this postseason, heavily relying on their deep bullpen, but the Yankees have a more traditional rotation with four arms.

While I personally am confident that the Dodgers’ three will step up big in this series, the clear favorite is the New York Yankees, led by 2023 American League Cy Young Award winner Gerrit Cole.

DODGERSBEAT VERDICT: Edge to Yankees

Bullpen

Make no mistake: The Los Angeles Dodgers are in the World Series in large part due to their bullpen. Over the span of the NLDS and NLCS, the Dodgers have had to pitch three bullpen games. Their longest outing from the starting rotation was seven innings, but other than that, they’ve hovered around 3-5 innings max.

The bullpen has had to work overtime, pitching fifty-seven combined innings this postseason with a 3.16 ERA.

However, the Yankees bullpen has been just as good this postseason, pitching to a 2.56 ERA in 38.2 innings but having a 4.50 ERA during the ALCS.

The Dodgers also have a few wild cards they could turn to this series, as Brusdar Graterol and Alex Vesia could return for the fall classic, giving the bullpen an even greater boost.

DODGERSBEAT VERDICT: Slight edge to Dodgers

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Written by Cody Snavely

Cody Snavely has been the co-editor of DodgersBeat and full-time host of the Bleed Los Podcast since February 2023. He has also written for multiple websites, such as Dodgers Way, Dodgers Low-Down, and Dodgers Tailgate. A Wilmington University graduate, Snavely is an avid Dodgers fan who uses his advanced baseball knowledge to keep fans updated on the latest storylines, rumors, and opinions on Dodgers baseball.

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