Bryce Harper? Daniel Murphy? Look past the obvious names to find the ones that will help decide the NLDS.
WASHINGTON — If we learned anything from the two Wild Card games this week, it’s that the game-winning three-run blast in a playoff game can come from someone as seemingly obvious as Edwin Encarnacion or as completely, ridiculously fabricated out of the Giants’ evil postseason hero cauldron as Conor Gillaspie.
When applying the same logic to the Nationals-Dodgers NLDS beginning Friday night in D.C., there are the usual suspects who we expect to impact the series. Near-batting champion and MVP candidate Daniel Murphy, 2015 MVP and postseason terror Bryce Harper, and near mortal lock for the NL Cy Young Max Scherzer lead the way for the home side. Breakout star Corey Seager and best left-handed-pitcher-alive Clayton Kershaw headline the Dodgers.
But there are a number of other names whose performances may impact this series at least as much. This is a look at five of them and specifically what to watch for over the next three to five games.
(AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
AP Photo/Alex Brandon
Jayson Werth
Werth has played two different 2016 seasons — one against right-handed pitching, the other against lefties. The veteran outfielder has been anemic in 465 plate appearances against righties, slashing just .220/.312/.356. That slugging percentage rates more than 100 points below his overall career average. But he’s killed southpaws to the tune of an MVP-like .322/.411/.620 line, with 18 of his 39 hits going for extra bases.
Werth had the highest OPS against lefties (1.031) of any National. The Dodgers will start lefties Kershaw and Rich Hill in Games 1 and 2, with the likes of Juilo Urias, Brett Anderson and Adam Liberatore waiting in the wings. Consider that the only other two players with considerably strong numbers were Wilson Ramos (1.008), out for the year, and Daniel Murphy (. 924), still recovering from an injury that has sidelined him the past two weeks, and Werth’s success in this series takes on added weight.
(AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar
Trea Turner
Turner has been a godsend for the Nats, slashing .342/.370/.567 in 73 games since being called up. He’s solidified himself as the leadoff man of the future, whether he plays center field or shortstop. But Turner’s game-changing speed — something the Royals showed can take on added importance in the postseason — has been the most impressive part of his game. He swiped 33 bags in 39 tries, tied for the seventh-highest total in all of the big leagues, despite playing less than half a season.
With lefties pitching the first two games (and, likely, at least three of the possible five) for the Dodgers, will Turner still be able to use that speed to his advantage on the base paths? Kershaw allowed one single stolen base against him all season in 149 innings. Hill allowed seven in 110.1 IP, but only one in his last 34.1 IP since his trade to the Dodgers. Perhaps Turner’s best bet? Against Dodgers relievers like Joe Blanton (9 SB in 80 IP) or Urias (7 SB in 77 IP).
(AP Photo/Nick Wass)
AP Photo/Nick Wass
Yasiel Puig
Puig’s days as a Dodger seemed all but done earlier this year, with rumors flying in July that the Dodgers wanted to trade him, but couldn’t find any suitors. When the team added Josh Reddick and Hill before the deadline, Puig was actually optioned to the minors as something of a wake-up call.
It worked. He’s come back with a revamped attitude and solid, if unspectacular, numbers to match. He slashed .300/.362/.620 with four home runs in just 50 September at-bats. He’s looked like a different player in right field, where his tremendous arm still plays up. But another part of Puig’s production stands out for this series, especially its potential ramifications in Game 2 against Gio Gonzalez.
The Dodgers have been historically bad against left-handed pitching this year, posting the lowest OPS against southpaws in major league history for a playoff team. Puig’s .471 slugging percentage against lefties rates as the best on the entire club, with Seager (. 413) the only other player with at least 100 at-bats to clear .400.
(AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
AP Photo/Alex Brandon
Josh Reddick
The veteran outfielder has put up somewhat pedestrian numbers since being traded to the Dodgers midseason, but had a quietly strong September, batting .400 with a .569 slugging percentage. He’s always had fairly strong platoon splits, but they are even more pronounced this year, as he’s slashed .322/.386/.485 with all 10 of his homers against righties. A solid defensive outfielder with a strong arm, he provides a critical bench option for Dave Roberts.
Reddick is also headed for free agency for the first time this offseason. If we learned anything from Murphy’s postseason explosion last year, it’s not to sleep on an impending free agent in the playoffs.
(AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
AP Photo/Jae C. Hong
Carlos Ruiz
The Dodgers surprised many by trading popular backstop and Kershaw’s personal catcher A.J. Ellis in August, after the nonwaiver deadline, to acquire Ruiz. When it comes to this particular series, though, few catchers are as familiar with how to attack the Nationals than Chooch, who has sat behind the plate with the Phillies every year since 2006.
Ruiz has thrown out just 27 percent of attempted base stealers in his career, but that number is at a career-best (and NL-leading) 42 percent this season, including all three that have attempted to steal on him since the trade to L.A. Yasmani Grandal — who led all NL catchers with 27 home runs — should get the lion’s share of playing time in this series. With the Dodgers carrying third catcher Austin Barnes, Ruiz can be used strategically with less restraint, knowing there’s still a backup behind him.
(AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi)
Everyone knows the superstars for both the Nationals and Dodgers, but there are a number of other names that may prove just as crucial in deciding the National League Division Series.
