The NLCS was a showcase of decisive victories, with all six games decided by at least four runs, and four of those games featuring margins of six runs or more. The ALCS, while closer, concluded more quickly, with all five games decided by three runs or fewer.
In the end, the top-seeded New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers advanced to the World Series, set to begin on Friday. Here are the standout performers from the LCS.
Catcher
Francisco Alvarez, Mets
7-for-17, 1 2B, 2 RBI, 2 BB
Alvarez would likely have been overshadowed by Guardians catcher Bo Naylor (.909 OPS) if not for his impressive performance in the final two games of the NLCS, where he reached base six times. He outperformed even Francisco Lindor in the series with a .947 OPS compared to Lindor’s .893. Alvarez had an impressive on-base percentage of .476, getting on base nearly half the time. Naylor also finished strong in the ALCS; after starting the playoffs hitless in his first seven at-bats, he managed a pinch-hit single in Game 3, doubled in Game 4, and collected a couple of hits, including an RBI double, in Game 5.
First Baseman
Max Muncy, Dodgers
5-for-15, 2 HR, 11 BB, 2 SB, .630 OBP
While Pete Alonso from the Mets (.429 OBP) and Anthony Rizzo of the Yankees (.500 OBP) also had strong on-base performances, Muncy set a record by reaching base in 12 consecutive plate appearances, leading the LCS in walks. He hit two home runs and showcased his defensive versatility by stepping in as the Dodgers’ primary first baseman when Freddie Freeman needed a break for his ankle.
Second Baseman
Gleyber Torres, Yankees
8-for-22, 2 BB, 5 runs, .809 OPS
Torres tied with Shohei Ohtani for the most hits among LCS leadoff hitters, and his eight hits were also tied for the fourth-most overall. While he didn’t generate a lot of power, Torres excelled in his role, getting on base ahead of the Yankees’ heavy hitters.
Shortstop
Tommy Edman, Dodgers
11-for-27, 3 2B, 1 HR, 11 RBI
If you’re a die-hard fan of your favorite team, you might think your shortstop deserves a spot on this list. Anthony Volpe posted an .888 OPS for the Yankees, Brayan Rocchio had an .871 OPS for the Guardians, and Francisco Lindor recorded an .893 OPS for the Mets. However, Tommy Edman arguably emerged as the most valuable player of the entire round. He not only stepped in as the shortstop when Miguel Rojas got injured, but he also led the LCS in hits and RBIs, driving in the first four runs in the decisive Game 6. Edman was named NLCS MVP.
Third Baseman
Mark Vientos, Mets
6-for-27, 3 HR, 7 RBI
Vientos was also our pick for the Division Series and could have easily been the choice for the wild-card round as well. The Mets’ third baseman has been one of the breakout stars of October, leading the postseason with 14 RBIs. While José Ramírez matched him in the ALCS with an .807 OPS compared to Vientos’ .806, Vientos made a bigger impact with his power numbers, tying for the third-most RBIs in the round.
Left Fielder
Juan Soto, Yankees
7-for-19, 1 2B, 3 HR, 6 RBI, 1.373 OPS
We know that Soto actually plays right field for the Yankees, but with a need to include at least two right fielders—possibly three—the easiest solution was to slot him into left field after his standout performance in Game 5. The primary left fielders in the LCS (Steven Kwan, Teoscar Hernández, Alex Verdugo, and Brandon Nimmo) struggled, hitting just .167, while Soto performed significantly better. If we had to name an actual left fielder, Kwan would be the choice for his ability to get on base with walks.
Center Fielder
Andy Pages, Dodgers
4-for-17, 2 HR, 4 RBI
It wasn’t a stellar round for center fielders, but rookie Andy Pages from the Dodgers contributed a pair of home runs and finished with an .866 OPS. Aaron Judge had a couple of RBIs for the Yankees, but his overall performance was less impressive across the board (.235/.278/.588 for Pages versus .167/.261/.500 for Judge). Lane Thomas and Tyrone Taylor got on base frequently for the Guardians and Mets, respectively, but offered little else offensively.
Right Fielder
Mookie Betts, Dodgers
9-for-26, 4 2B, 2 HR, 9 RBI, 1.235 OPS
This is why Soto is being placed in left field; Mookie Betts had a standout performance, ranking second in the round for RBIs. He also drew five walks, reaching base 14 times over six games. It would be unjust to have an All-LCS team without both Betts and Soto, and Starling Marte of the Mets deserves consideration as well. Marte tied Betts for the most doubles and was second in hits during the round. Jhonkensy Noel, the Guardians’ right fielder, also made a name for himself with his memorable game-tying home run in Game 3.
Designated Hitter
Giancarlo Stanton, Yankees
4-for-18, 4 HR, 7 RBI, 3 BB, 1.222 OPS
Choosing Giancarlo Stanton for this spot feels right, especially since he was named ALCS MVP. However, three of the top five players in OPS for this round were designated hitters. Jesse Winker had a 1.117 OPS for the Mets, and Shohei Ohtani posted a 1.184 mark for the Dodgers. The Guardians’ duo of Kyle Manzardo and David Fry combined for a solid 9-for-25 performance with two home runs, including Fry’s walk-off in Game 5. Stanton, however, led the round in home runs and tied for the third-most RBIs.
Utility Man
Kiké Hernández, Dodgers
7-for-24, 1 HR, 3 BB, 4 RBI, 3 positions
Kiké Hernández played every inning of the NLCS, starting two games each at center field, second base, and third base, even playing all three positions in Game 1. He recorded three multi-hit games and provided a crucial two-out, two-run homer that gave the Dodgers some breathing room in Game 3. Neither Hernández nor Chris Taylor had particularly strong regular seasons, but both posted OPS figures over .800 in the LCS.
Starting pitcher
Carlos Rodón, Yankees
10 2/3 IP, 8 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 15 K
Honestly, Carlos Rodón could easily be the sole starting pitcher on this All-LCS team. He led the LCS in both innings pitched and strikeouts, and he was the only pitcher—starter or reliever—to throw more than five innings with an ERA below 4.50. Rodón set the tone for the Yankees with six solid innings in Game 1 and pitched into the fifth inning of the decisive Game 5. The Yankees benefited from a deep and consistent rotation, with their other three starters—Gerrit Cole, Luis Gil, and Clarke Schmidt—each delivering solid performances, giving the team a significant edge over their competition.
Matthew Boyd, Guardians
5 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 4 K
While Tanner Bibee had a commendable outing in Game 5, pitching 5 2/3 innings with two earned runs in a must-win situation, his disastrous performance in Game 2 (pulled after just four outs) left him with a 5.14 ERA for the round. Matthew Boyd made only one start for the Guardians, but it was a strong one in their only victory.
Walker Buehler, Dodgers
4 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 6 K
It feels a bit unfair to include just two starting pitchers on this All-LCS team, but the options are limited. Jack Flaherty had one brilliant start (seven scoreless innings) alongside one disastrous outing (eight earned runs), while Luis Severino posted a 0.00 ERA in his lone start but took the loss due to a couple of unearned runs. That leaves us with Walker Buehler, who had a solid but brief outing in Game 3, achieving the highest Win Probability Added of any starter in the LCS, even surpassing Rodón.
Closer
Edwin Díaz, Mets
5 1/3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 6 K
With only four saves across the round and no closer recording more than one, this wasn’t the traditional round for closers. However, Díaz was outstanding. He closed out both of the Mets’ wins—pitching four outs in one and six outs in the other—and entered in the fourth inning of Game 6 to throw two hitless innings, giving the Mets a fighting chance.
Reliever
Blake Treinen, Dodgers
4 1/3 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 7 K
The NLCS was characterized by blowouts, leading to unusual usage for leverage relievers. Treinen recorded a six-out save in Game 6, striking out the side in the eighth inning. He also pitched in the sixth and seventh innings of Games 3 and 4, often facing Francisco Lindor. His most crucial out came in Game 4, when he got Jesse Winker to strand the bases loaded, halting a Mets rally before it could gain momentum. Additionally, Ben Casparius, a rookie reliever for the Dodgers, pitched 4 1/3 scoreless innings, playing a key role in the team’s bullpen-heavy strategy.
(Top photo of Betts: Harry How / Getty Images)
