2016 NLDS Preview: Nationals vs Dodgers

This series right here could be a really good series. Even though the Dodgers have the edge in the season series at 5-1, but the Nationals are still a very good club. Both boast great pitching and rock solid defenses so this series could be a low scoring affair. Lets take a look at each team.

Dodgers

PITCHERS

Luis Avilan

Pedro Baez

Joe Blanton

Grant Dayton

Josh Fields

Rich Hill

Kenley Jansen

Clayton Kershaw

Kenta Maeda

Ross Stripling

Julio Urias

This right here is one their biggest strengths as their pitching was what carried them all the way to the finish line. On paper, their bullpen doesn’t look so good, but they have been phenomenal this season. Avilan is likely to be a situational lefty. There are options in this bullpen that just makes them incredibly deep. Dayton had a great run at the end of the season, Stripling can go long relief if needed, Fields is reliable and Blanton can go long as well. Baez has some electric stuff that could make him the future closer soon. Jansen is regarded as one of the top relievers in the game and he’s the perfect man for the closer role. Kershaw is probably the best pitcher in baseball as he has a few Cy Youngs and an MVP under his belt. His stuff is just downright filthy. It almost seems like at any point in time he could throw a no-hitter or even a perfect game. Hill came out of nowhere and has been sensational since coming over. He has spent time on the disabled list so it will be a mystery to whether he continues that success or whether it was just a hot streak. Maeda has been great since joining the team from Japan and has a windup that is just downright deceptive. Urias is one of the best pitching prospects in the game and could be a future ace. His stuff is almost as good as Kershaw’s.

CATCHERS

Austin Barnes

Yasmani Grandal

Carlos Ruiz

Barnes provides depth, but he could be good enough to start. Grandal has a lot of potential to be a good hitter, but hasn’t lived up to the billing. However, he has shown more pop in 2016. Ruiz is a proven winner and a veteran player who should help this team a lot.

INFIELDERS

Charlie Culberson

Adrian Gonzalez

Howie Kendrick

Corey Seager

Justin Turner

Chase Utley

Talk about no soft spots in the infield as each of these guys are dangerous. Culberson has played exceptionally well of late including hitting a walk-off home run to win the NL West title for the Dodgers. Gonzalez is one of the best hitting first basemen in the league, but he also has a very good glove. Kendrick has been versatile this year as he played some left field, but he is another guy who has pop. Seager not only will be the likely NL Rookie of the Year, but should be considered an MVP candidate as he has shown that he is already a superstar despite this year being his first full season. He’s only going to get better. Turner had some injuries that have slowed him down, but he is still a solid defender and a great hitter. Utley maybe getting older, but he is very productive still including him being a dangerous leadoff hitter.

OUTFIELDERS

Andre Ethier

Joc Pederson

Yasiel Puig

Josh Reddick

Andrew Toles

Ethier was injured most of the year, but when healthy, he is productive. Pederson just seemingly can’t get out of the funk that he entered in the second half of 2015, but when he gets hot, he can do a lot of damage at the plate. Puig had a rocky season with being demoted to the minors and all, but he is still a very talented player as he is a five tool individual. Reddick has been disappointing since making the move to Los Angeles, but he still can be a threat if not being careful. Toles has been a nice surprise for the team this season, but he is very talented.

Overall, the Dodgers could make a run at the World Series as some feel like they will slug and pitch their way to the NLCS. However this season as a team they hit .249 with 189 home runs and hit .245 with 8 home runs against the Nationals in 2016. Their pitching will be key as they pitched to a 3.70 mark as a team and had a 3.57 ERA overall against the Nationals. Very good team though.

Nationals

PITCHERS

Gio Gonzalez

Shawn Kelley

Reynaldo Lopez

Mark Melancon

Oliver Perez

Tanner Roark

Joe Ross

Marc Rzepczynski

Max Scherzer

Sammy Solis

Blake Treinen

This bullpen might be the best in the National League as manager Dusty Baker has lots of options here. Kelley has been outstanding, Treinen and Solis have been incredibly relieable, Rzepczynski has been great since being acquired and is a left handed specialist, Perez has struggled of late, but he can also be used as a left handed specialist role. Lopez is probably going to be long relief option, but he is a top prospect and can be used in spot starts. Melancon has been phenomenal since being traded over to the Nationals from the Pirates as they were desperate for a closer after Jonathan Papelbon pitched terribly. Ross is going to be a long relief option, but he could also start if needed. Gonzalez maybe the x-factor in this series as he is a left handed pitcher and Dodgers don’t hit lefties very well. Scherzer is one of the best pitchers in baseball as he is a Cy Young candidate. Roark has had a breakout season and could be very valuable in this series.

CATCHERS

Jose Lobaton

Pedro Severino

After losing Wilson Ramos to an injury, this suddenly becomes a weakness. It might be a blessing in disguise as these two guys are better defensively. The offense will suffer though. Severino could be a good player soon, but he is inexperienced. Lobaton is great defensively, but his bat is pretty lackluster.

INFIELDERS

Wilmer Difo

Stephen Drew

Danny Espinosa

Daniel Murphy

Anthony Rendon

Clint Robinson

Ryan Zimmerman

Difo is one of their top prospects and he provides some versatility and speed off the bench. Drew is an experienced veteran who is also versatile. Espinosa has a lot of pop, but he strikes out a lot. His defense is very good though. Murphy has an MVP type season this year. When he was signed, I didn’t think it was all that good of a pickup, but boy he proved me wrong and I’m glad he did. Rendon is a very underrated player as he once was thought of as a MVP candidate in 2014. Robinson is a left handed power bat off the bench. Zimmerman is a shell of his former self, but he can still be dangerous at the plate when least expected.

OUTFIELDERS

Bryce Harper

Chris Heisey

Michael A. Taylor

Trea Turner

Jayson Werth

Despite having a down year, Harper is still one of the best players in the game. If he can get hot in the postseason, it would be huge for the Nationals. Heisey has been a solid backup all year as he hit a few key pinch hits this season. Taylor has been a disappointment, but he is still speedy and a solid defender. Turner might be the Rookie of the Year if Seager had not played this year, but he is a great player with speed and some pop. He is a star in the making, but his defense is suspect as he is still learning center field. Werth might not be as dangerous as he once was, but he still gets on base and can be productive.

One thing to consider about the Nationals is that they have been the most consistent team all year in the National League, so with that it really does make them a favorite. As a team offense they hit .256 with 203 home runs and hit .262 with eight home runs against the Dodgers. The pitching will also be key as they pitched to a 3.51 mark and 4.03 against the Dodgers. One thing they have an advantage over the Dodgers is the amount of lefties on their staff and the Dodgers have trouble hitting against them.

Prediction

So with all the variables, numbers, and from what I’ve seen of both teams, I feel like it will be the Nationals who will be moving on. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Dodgers do advance, but I just don’t it actually coming to fruition. The Nationals will finally get over the hump and advance to the NLCS.