Previewing 2016 NLCS: Cubs vs Dodgers
This could potentially be a very exciting series as both the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Chicago Cubs square off in the National League Championship series as one relies on power bats and strong pitching, where the other relies on coming up in the clutch and gritty pitching and defense. The Cubs took the season series in 2016 4-3, but the playoffs are a different animal. This could be a seven game series, but you never actually know what plays out. Lets take a look at both teams.
Cubs
Pitchers
Jake Arrieta
Aroldis Chapman
Carl Edwards Jr.
Justin Grimm
Kyle Hendricks
John Lackey
Jon Lester
Mike Montgomery
Hector Rondon
Pedro Strop
Travis Wood
Rob Zastryzny
This pitching staff is sneaky good and only got stronger as the season went on. Wood, Strop, Rondon, Montgomery, and Grimm have all been rock solid and with converted starter, Carl Edwards Jr. and Aroldis Chapman, its scary good. Chapman throws absolute gas and is probably one of the best relievers in the game. The rotation is pretty good as you have Lester who is having a Cy Young caliber year, Hendricks having a breakout season, Lackey a proven postseason competitor, and, despite a down year, a fantastic pitcher in Arrieta. Zastryzny is a lefty and the Dodgers have struggled against lefties all season. Their pitching was ranked first in the National League, so the Dodgers batters will have issues.
Catchers
Willson Contreras
Miguel Montero
David Ross
Manager Joe Maddon seems to like to use three catchers. Contreras is probably their best catcher, but he also can play the field. Montero provides some pop off the bench and Ross, who is retiring, is a proven leader and great clubhouse guy.
Infielders
Javier Baez
Kris Bryant
Anthony Rizzo
Addison Russell
Ben Zobrist
The infield is very talented. You have Bryant and Rizzo who are MVP candidates, Russell who has power, Baez who is a five-tool player, and Zobrist who is a proven veteran.
Outfielders
Albert Almora Jr.
Chris Coghlan
Dexter Fowler
Jason Heyward
Jorge Soler
Almora was a surprise in getting the nod over Matt Szczur, but Almora is a better defender and has been hitting well of late. Coghlan is a utility player, but also a solid bat off the bench. Fowler had an awesome season this year as he really paced the offense from the leadoff spot. Heyward was disappointing in 2016, but its the playoffs, anything can happen. Soler will get some starts, but most likely will be some thump off the bench.
They have been the best team all season with 103 wins so the confidence is high with them. With momentum, they could use that to their advantage as they faced a very good pitching staff in San Francisco. However, Joe Maddon will have to be cautious with how he uses his substitutes as Dodgers manager proved how well he can manage a game in the last game against the Nationals.
Dodgers
PITCHERS
Luis Avilan
Pedro Baez
Joe Blanton
Grant Dayton
Josh Fields
Rich Hill
Kenley Jansen
Clayton Kershaw
Kenta Maeda
Ross Stripling
Julio Urias
Alex Wood
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. Wood has some good stuff, but he could be used in long relief if needed.
CATCHERS
Yasmani Grandal
Carlos Ruiz
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
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. 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
Kike Hernandez
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. Hernandez is a versatile player, but he is also a grinder and that makes him valuable.
To some the Dodgers are a surprise in this NLCS (though to a lot more they aren’t). However, they still matchup well against the Cubs and are the last chance at derailing them from making the World Series in 2016. When their offense is clicking, they can absolutely obliterate. If every game it becomes battle of bullpens, they have the advantage. They really are a threat to the Cubs.
So each team will be looking to make the World Series for the first time in a long time (Dodgers in 1988 and Cubs in 1945), but expect each game to be exciting and are nail biters. Despite what I said about the Dodgers, who are coming in with more rhythm than the Cubs, the Cubs are still really that good. It will probably go seven games, but the Cubs win this one and move on to the World Series for the first time in over 70 years.
