Are the Dodgers or Padres the Better Team in 2021?

As we get closer to the season lets take a  look and who is the better team in 2021 the Dodgers or Padres. We’ll take a position by position breaking down.

Starting Rotation:

Team:         Dodgers:        vs      Padres 

1. RHP Walker Buhler > RHP Dinelson Lamet
2. LHP Clayton Kershaw > LHP Blake Snell
3. RHP Trevor Bauer > RHP RHP Yu Darvish
4. RHP Dustin May > RHP Joe Musgrove
5. LHP David Price < RHP Chris Paddock

The Dodgers clearly have the far better rotation but not by much! Once Mike Clevenger comes back late this season it will even out a good bit.

Over all Rotation: Strong edge to the Dodgers.

Bullpen:

Team:         Dodgers:        vs      Padres 

1. CP: RHP Kenley Jansen > RHP Craig Stammon
2. SU1: LHP Scott Alexander < LHP Drew Pomeranz
3. SU1: RHP Blake Trienen = RHP Mark Melancon
4. MR: RHP  Corey Knebel > RHP Javy Guerra
5. MR: RHP Joe Kelly  > RHP Keona Kela
6. MR: RHP Tommy Kahnle > RHP Emilio Pegan
7. LR: RHP Tony Gonsolin > RHP Matt Strahm
8. LR: RHP Dennis Santana < LHP Ryan Weathers

This one isn’t even fair. Dodgers may have the 2nd best bullpen in the game to ONLY the Yankees here! So freakin deep! Man what a deep bullpen and massive advantage over the padres!

Over all Bullpen: Massive advantage DODGERS! 

Lineup:

Team:   Dodgers:        vs      Padres 

1. C Will Smith > C Victor Caratini
2. 1B Max Muncy < Eric Hosmer
3. 2B Gavin Lux >> 2B Jake
4. SS Corey Seager < Fernando Tatis Jr
5. 3B Justin Turner < 3B Manny Machado
6. LF A.J. Pollack > LF Juricson Profar
7. CF Cody Bellinger >>>>> Trent Grisham
8. RF Mookie Betts > RF Will Myers

MASSIVE… Wash. About the same. Should score about the same and such.

Overall Lineup: WASH. About the same

Bench:

Team:    Dodgers:        vs      Padres 

1. C Austin Barnes >> C Austin Nola
2. INF Edwin Rios < INF Haseong Kim
3. OF/INF Chris Taylor > INF/OF Jorge Mateo
4. OF D.J. Peters < OF Tommy Pham
5. INF Matt Beaty > INF/OF Brian O’Grady

Interesting benching both way. Not a ton of depth either way for that matter.

Over all bench: Slightest of edges to the Dodgers.

Overall Team Edge: Dodgers.

The Dodgers are the better team but the Padres will stay close to them all season long. If RHP Mike Clevenger does indeed it back by the end of the season he’ll be a major wild card here.

The Dodgers remain the better team though.

BY: ADAM KING