Infield
Braves: Travis d’Arnaud, Freddie Freeman, Ozzie Albies, Dansby Swanson, Austin Riley
Dodgers: Will Smith, Cody Bellinger, Trea Turner, Corey Seager, Justin Turner
The infield has not seen any change from the Braves point of view, but the Dodgers have made one massive addition, as well as one glaring absence.
The Braves sport the same five catcher/infield combo from a year ago, a group that had success at-times, as well as some massive moments, against the Dodgers in the 2020 NLCS.
Leading the charge is 2020 NL MVP Freddie Freeman who slashed .360/.448/.720 in seven games a year ago against the Dodgers collecting nine hits, two of which were home runs with six RBI’s. Joining Freeman in the infield are Albies, Swanson, and Riley, with Albies and Swanson enjoying strong series against the Dodgers a year ago.
Riley and catcher Travis d’Arnaud struggled at times during last seasons NLCS, but did provide some big moments, most-notably Riley’s Game 1 home run in the ninth inning.
The Dodgers enter this series without first baseman Max Muncy who suffered an injury at the end of the regular season, as well as Kike Hernandez (now with Red Sox), but have moved former MVP Cody Bellinger back to first who homered twice in this series a year ago.
Joining Bellinger is 2020 NLCS and World Series MVP Corey Seager who torched Atlanta last season in the NLCS slashing .310/.333/.897 with five home runs and 11 RBI’s, as well as Turner at third base and Smith at catcher, both of whom had big moments a year ago.
The Dodgers biggest addition however is obviously second baseman Trea Turner, who was acquired from Washington at the trade deadline. A player the Braves are very-familiar with, Turner is not the most-accomplished postseason player, but is a career .319/.362/.531 hitter against Atlanta across 92 career games.