Dodgers Dugout: Will it be Milwaukee or Arizona?

Hi, and welcome to another edition of Dodgers Dugout. My name is Houston Mitchell. Will it be Milwaukee or Arizona in the NLDS?

The regular season is over and we have to wait until Saturday when the postseason begins for the Dodgers. We’ll compare how they fare against their opponent when we actually have an opponent. (Of course, the Dodgers should beat either Milwaukee or Arizona, but then again they should have defeated everyone last season.) Until then, let’s take a look at some regular-season numbers.

Record vs. Arizona: 8-5
vs. Milwaukee: 5-1

NL batting leaders

There were 68 batters to qualify for rate leaders (batting average, OB%, etc.). To qualify, you had to have at least 502 plate appearances. Only five Dodgers had at least 502: Freddie Freeman, Mookie Betts, Will Smith, James Outman and Max Muncy.

Batting Average
1. Luis Arraez, Miami, .354
2. Ronald Acuña Jr.. Atlanta, .337
3. Freddie Freeman, .331
4. Cody Bellinger, Chicago, .307
5. Mookie Betts, Dodgers, .307
38. Will Smith, .261
53. James Outman, .248
66. Max Muncy, .212
68. Kyle Schwarber, Philadelphia, .197

Note: Schwarber also had 47 homers and 104 RBIs. And he struck out 215 times.

On-base percentage
1. Ronald Acuña Jr.. Atlanta, .416
2. Juan Soto, San Diego, .410
3. Freddie Freeman, .410
4. Mookie Betts, .408
5. Bryce Harper, .401
16. Will Smith, .359
21. James Outman, .353
34. Max Muncy, .333
68. Ezequiel Tovar, Colorado, .287

Slugging percentage
1. Matt Olson, Atlanta, .604
2. Ronald Acuña Jr.. Atlanta, .596
3. Mookie Betts, .579
4. Freddie Freeman, .567
5. Marcell Ozuna, Atlanta, .558
19. Max Muncy, .475
41. Will Smith, .438
43. James Outman,.437
68. Trent Grisham, San Diego, .352

When looking at all three categories above, you can see why it is a mistake to judge Muncy only on batting average.

WAR
1. Mookie Betts, 8.4
2. Ronald Acuña Jr.. Atlanta, 8.4
3. Matt Olson, Atlanta, 7.2
4. Freddie Freeman, 6.7
5. Francisco Lindor, New York, 6.1
21. Will Smith, 4.0
36. James Outman, 3.3
45. Max Muncy, 2.9

Runs
1. Ronald Acuña Jr., Atlanta, 149
2. Freddie Freeman, 131
3. Matt Olson, Atlanta, 127
4. Mookie Betts, 126
5. Austin Riley, Atlanta, 117

Hits
1. Ronald Acuña Jr.. Atlanta, 217
2. Freddie Freeman, 211
3. Luis Arraez, Miami, 203
4. Mookie Betts, 179
4. Austin Riley, Atlanta, 179

Doubles
1. Freddie Freeman, 59
2. Mookie Betts, 40
3. Jeimer Candelario, Chi/Wash, 39
4. William Contreras, Milwaukee, 38

Home runs
1. Matt Olson, Atlanta, 54
2. Kyle Schwarber, Philadelphia, 47
3. Pete Alonso, New York, 46
4. Ronald Acuña Jr.. Atlanta, 41
5. Marcell Ozuna, Atlanta, 40
6. Mookie Betts, 39

RBIs
1. Matt Olson, Atlanta, 139
2. Pete Alonso, New York, 118
3. Ozzie Albies, Atlanta, 109
3. Juan Soto, San Diego, 109
5. Mookie Betts, 107

Walks
1. Juan Soto, San Diego, 132
2. Kyle Schwarber, Philiadelphia, 126
3. Matt Olson, Atlanta, 104
4. Ian Happ, Chicago, 99
5. Mookie Betts, 96
7. Max Muncy, 85

To qualify for pitching rate leaders (such as ERA), you had to pitch at least 162 innings. No Dodger reached that mark. Only 20 pitchers in the NL pitched that many. In 2003, 49 NL pitchers threw at least 162 innings.

We’ll look at pitching and more individual Dodger stats as the week progresses.

Poll results

We asked, “Which team do you want the Dodgers to face in the NLDS?” After 15,670 responses, the results:

Arizona, 23.3%
Chicago, 22.9%
Miami, 17.6%
Milwaukee, 15.2%
Cincinnati, 11.8%
San Diego, 9.2%

Now that it has been narrowed down to two teams, what do you wish for now, Arizona or Milwaukee. Vote in our new poll here.

The postseasson roster

Some of the final roster decisions will be made based on who the opponent will be. But let’s hazard a guess as to the roster for the NLDS.

Position players
Austin Barnes
Mookie Betts
Freddie Freeman
Kiké Hernández
Jason Heyward
J.D. Martinez
Max Muncy
James Outman
David Peralta
Miguel Rojas
Amed Rosario
Will Smith
Chris Taylor

There has been speculation that the team might go with Kolten Wong over Rosario. Anything is possible, but I’m just not seeing it. Which means it will probably happen. Also, Rojas was hit on the left hand by a pitch in the game against the Giants on Friday night. He hasn’t played since, but X-rays were negative. It’s something to keep an eye on. Rojas said Saturday, “It feels OK. I got a round of treatment. Right now, I know it’s going to hurt. I got hit there before, and it’s probably going to take a little bit for it to start feeling better. But I’m glad with these couple games and then we have a couple days before we play our first playoff game. I’m pretty positive I’m going to be able to play.”

Taylor was hit in the right knee by a pitch Sunday and came out a little while later, but he’s apparently OK. Dave Roberts: “Chris is good. It was a slider that got him on the outside of the knee. It was one of, to what end [do we] keep running him out there? So got David [Peralta] in there, Kolten in there. He’ll be fine.”

Pitchers
Ryan Brasier
Caleb Ferguson
Brusdar Graterol
Joe Kelly
Clayton Kershaw
Lance Lynn
Bobby Miller
Shelby Miller
Ryan Pepiot
Evan Phillips
Emmet Sheehan
Alex Vesia
Ryan Yarbrough

There has also been speculation that Ferguson could be left off the roster because he has struggled lately. But one of those was a start, and he has been terrible as a starter this year. And one was in Colorado. If you discount those two appearances, then in 10 games this month, he has pitched 9.1 innings, giving up six hits and one walk while striking out 14. If he doesn’t get the spot, it probably goes to Victor González or Michael Grove.

Kershaw starts Game 1

In a surprise to few, Roberts said that Clayton Kershaw will start Game 1 of the NLDS.

Kershaw has some sort of shoulder injury that has reduced his velocity, but he has still been the Dodgers’ best starting pitcher. “It’s pretty academic,” Roberts said. “... It seems like pretty much a no-brainer.”

The Dodgers are looking to get five innings, or about 80 pitches, from Kershaw.

Anything you want to know?

We have four more days to kill until the NLDS begins, so I’m throwing open the reader mailbag? Any questions you want answered? Email me at houston.mitchell@latimes.com and I’ll put together a Q&A before Saturday. And the top 25 Dodgers of all time countdown continues Tuesday.

NLDS schedule

Game 1: at Dodgers, Saturday
Game 2: at Dodgers, Monday, Oct. 9
Game 3: at opponent, Wednesday, Oct. 11
Game 4: at opponent, Thursday, Oct. 12
Game 5: at Dodgers, Saturday, Oct. 14

All games will be on TBS. Start times have not been announced, but if the TBS website is to believed, it looks like the games will start at either 5:30 p.m. or 5.

The wild-card schedule

If you want to keep track of all the wild-card series, here’s how. They are best-of-three, with the higher seed hosting every game:

Arizona at Milwaukee (winner plays Dodgers)

Game 1: Tuesday, 4 p.m., ESPN2
Game 2: Wednesday, 4 p.m., ESPN2
*Game 3: Thursday, 4 p.m., ESPN2

Miami at Philadelphia (winner plays Atlanta)

Game 1: Tuesday, 5 p.m., ESPN
Game 2: Wednesday, 5 p.m., ESPN
*Game 3: Thursday, 5 p.m., ESPN

Texas at Tampa Bay (winner plays Houston)

Game 1: Tuesday, Noon, ABC
Game 2: Wednesday, Noon, ABC
*Game 3: Thursday, Noon, ABC

Toronto at Minnesota (winner plays Baltimore)

Game 1: Tuesday, 1:30 p.m., ESPN
Game 2: Wednesday, 1:30 p.m., ESPN
*Game 3: Thursday, 1 :30 p.m., ESPN

*-if necessary
All times Pacific

World Series odds

By sportsbetting.ag

Atlanta, 3-1
Dodgers, 9-2
Houston, 5-1
Baltimore, 6-1
Tampa Bay, 10-1
Philadelphia, 12-1
Texas, 12-1
Toronto, 16-1
Milwaukee, 20-1
Minnesota, 20-1
Arizona, 33-1
Miami, 33-1

When the postseason began last year, the Dodgers were 2-1 favorites to win it according to most sites.

A different bracket

Two years ago, this newsletter mentioned Makenna Martin, a then-college student who was holding an online bracket (much like the NCAA bracket) where people could fill out their choices for the best-looking Dodger. She added a charitable aspect to it, raising money for a charity for women who are the victim of domenstic violence.

Martin, now a college graduate, has continued the bracket, and this year is using it to raise money for “Peace Over Violence,” another charity that helps victims of domestic abuse. You do not have to donate to take part in the bracket challenge. Some people affiliated with the Dodgers, including announcer Stephen Nelson, have donated and filled out a bracket. So far, $5,500 of a goal of $8,000 has been raised. Whether you donate or not, it’s a lot of fun to do. A tip of the cap to Martin and to all young people who try to make the world just a little bit better.

You can go here to take part.

In case you missed it

‘It’s been quite an accomplishment.’ Dodgers reflect on another 100-win season

Clayton Kershaw set to start Game 1 of NLDS: ‘Pretty much a no-brainer’

Dodgers will let season-ticket holders watch pre-playoff workout at Dodger Stadium

And finally

A closer look at the Dodgers’ 2023 NL West division title celebration. Watch and listen here.