Reese Kaplan -- The Dodgers Are a Really Good Team

For a minute let's forget about the challenges recently presented by the games against the Braves and the games against the Yankees.  No, they didn't go as Mets fans would have hoped, but the last time I looked at the standings the Mets still stand atop the National League East.  

However, before we breathe a sigh of relief about the state of who's in first place vs. who's in second, the Mets are about to embark on a series that has way more important implications for October baseball than either of these two contentious sets of games. 

The Mets are going to face off against the Los Angeles Dodgers, the best record in the league and perennial contenders at the top of the NL West.  THESE games mean a lot more because if the Mets are indeed able to hold onto their sometimes tenuous grip on the NL East then it is the Dodgers they will likely face for the National League Championship to determine who proceeds to the World Series.

Most of the time when you compare one team to another your inclination is to do a position-by-position parallel to see how you stack up to the competition.  Mets fans are always living on the edge when it comes to offense, but as you start this analysis of the two teams, it's pitching that's the real rub.

Starting at 1st base, the Mets have Pete Alonso and the Dodgers feature former Brave nemesis Freddie Freeman.  He was always a major thorn in the side of the Mets and he's continuing his success in Chavez Ravine.  Alonso is currently hitting .273 with 31 home runs and 103 RBIs.  It's still August.  

By contrast Freeman is hitting .327 with 16 home runs and 81 RBIs.  As good as he is, you'd have to give an edge to the Mets.

At second base the Mets pretty much feature Jeff McNeil there most of the time.  The last time I looked people were speculating on whether or not he could contend for a batting title.  What he's doing is certainly quite good though not quite at that level.  

He's hitting .321 with 7 home runs and 49 RBIs.  Gavin Lux is playing 2nd base for the Dodgers and having a very nice season, hitting .293 with 6 home runs and with 39 RBIs.  The edge once again would go to the Mets.

At shortstop it's an interesting battle.  The Mets feature their $341 million man, Francisco Lindor.  Everyone knows it was a rough first year in New York, but he's gotten better and right now is aiming towards a best-ever RBI season.  He's hitting .264 (which is a little low) but has 21 home runs and has already driven in 85.  

His career highs are 38 and 92 respectively.  The 38 home runs likely won't be reached but the 92 RBIs should be obliterated.  The Dodgers feature Trea Turner at shortstop and he's delivering well for them.  He's hitting .311 with 18 home runs and 86 RBIs.  The Dodgers get a slight edge here when you factor in his 21 vs. 14 edge in stolen bases. 

Now third base has historically been a black hole for the Mets with the exception of the David Wright years.  Right now the primary third baseman has been a down-on-his-luck Eduardo Escobar who is hitting just .214 with 12 HRs and 44 RBIs.  

You'd think that adding in stats from others who spent time at 3B would help the Mets to win this competition, but it turns out that Max Muncy has been even worse.  Muncy who turned from diamond-in-the-rough into a regular player in the Dodger roster is hitting just .189 with 16 homers and 51 RBIs.  Flip a coin since neither team is getting what they expected.  

In left field the Mets are primarily served by Mark Canha who has been hot lately after a long cool period.  For the year his power is down a bit as he's hitting .278 with 10 HRs and 50 RBIs.  The Dodgers have gotten even less with Chris Taylor primarily covering left while hitting just .227 with 8 HRs and 32 RBIs.  Edge here goes to the Mets.  

In center field the Mets have featured a surprisingly healthy Brandon Nimmo for this season.  Mets fans know he's an on-base machine.  He's hitting .263 with 12 HRs and 44 RBIs.  His claims to fame include his .354 OBP and dramatically improved defense at the position.  

The Dodgers have slugger Cody Bellinger out there who is delivering power but not much else.  He's hitting just .208 with 17 HRs and 54 RBIs.  His OBP is just .265.  As odd as it seems, I would call this matchup a push based upon what they're doing this year vs. previous seasons in which Bellinger would win easily.

Now right field is where it gets big in the Dodgers camp.    One of the best acquisitions Billy Eppler made in the off season was Starling Marte who fields beautifully, runs well and just takes professional at-bats.  He's currently hitting .291 with 14 HRs, 59 RBIs and he's contributed 18 stolen bases.  

Of course, the Dodgers counter with Mookie Betts who is hitting .281 but then the edges go to him.  He has 31 HRs and 69 RBIs.  Marte's 18 SBs outpace Betts' 12, but the victory on this position definitely goes to the Dodgers.

Finally we hit catcher which has been a painful position for the Mets all year long.  The Dodgers feature Will Smith who is hitting .269 with 19 HRs and 75 RBIs.  I'm not even going to add up all the Mets players who have tried and failed behind the plate when it comes to swinging the bat.  Huge edge goes to the Dodgers.

So if we look back through the offense right now the Mets have three clear winners in Alonso, McNeil and Canha.  The Dodgers have two winning entries in Trea Turner by a hair, Mookie Betts with his power and Will Turner behind the plate.  That's six positions out of eight.  

There are a couple of pushes with center field and third base.  So it's not the offense propelling the Dodgers to their superior record.  Next time around let's look at the pitching.  Keep the antacid or adult beverages handy for that entry.