Los Angeles Dodgers: How the Dodgers compare to the Atlanta Braves
By Jason Reed
Infield:
Los Angeles Dodgers:
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a bit hard to label because so many people on the team play so many different positions. This could get a bit confusing, as you may think someone belongs in the infield that is really in the outfield.
We are going with what we think the Dodgers A+ lineup is, which does come against right-handed pitching. Against southpaws, the positions do not change much, the players do, unless they are subbed on later.
You get the point.
- C — Yasmani Grandal
- C — Austin Barnes
- 1B — Max Muncy
- 1B — David Freese
- 2B — Enrique Hernandez
- 2B — Brian Dozier
- 3B — Justin Turner
- SS — Manny Machado
The Dodgers are pretty good in the infield, which is anchored by Manny Machado and Justin Turner. Machado is one of the best pure hitters in the game and has come up in big spots for LA. Justin Turner has been one of the best hitters of the second half. Defensively, the left side of the infield is hard to hit into.
As for the right side, Enrique Hernandez has developed from a southpaw specialist utility man to a legitimate option to start every day against both hands. The team still has the security power blanket of Brian Dozier to back things up.
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Max Muncy is the surprise of the season and is the big bat that Dodger fans wanted to get this offseason. While he can play elsewhere, his defense should limit him to first. David Freese, the newest guy, deserves to make the roster due to his postseason experience and his 1.130 OPS since joining the Dodgers.
Behind the plate, it gets kind of shaky as Yasmani Grandal and Austin Barnes can either be two of the best catchers in the entire MLB or two of the worst starting catchers.
Atlanta Braves
Like the rest of the roster, most of the Atlanta Braves infield includes young players, one of which being a former Dodger hero.
- C — Tyler Flowers
- C — Kurt Suzuki
- 1B — Freddie Freeman
- 2B — Ozzie Albies
- SS — Charlie Culberson
- 3B — Johan Camargo
- 3B — Ryan Flaherty
The Atlanta Braves are thin in the infield and are pretty banged up. It is still unclear whether or not Lucas Duda or Dansby Swanson will play. With this in mind, we assumed the two will not be playing and the Braves will instead opt to add a pitcher.
Freddie Freeman and Ozzie Albies are the two most dangerous of the bunch with Johan Carmago also packing a punch. Charlie Culberson is an old-face in LA and Ryan Flaherty is a decent depth option.
Kurt Suzuki should be the starting catcher and is a good one while Tyler Flowers is a capable back-up.
Right now, this infield has some big bats but cannot match up to the sheer firepower that the Dodgers infield has to offer.