1988 Dodgers vs 2020 Dodgers: Better Roster?
- Offensive Firepower: Stunt Doubles vs. An All-Star Gauntlet
- Starting Pitching: The Legend of Hershiser vs. Modern Pitch-Design Depth
- The Bullpen: Old-School Workhorses vs. 100-MPH Waves
- Intangibles and Context: 162-Game Grit vs. 60-Game Perfection
- The Verdict: Which Dodgers Champion Was Truly Better?
- FAQ
If you want a quick, definitive answer to the 1988 dodgers vs 2020 dodgers roster debate: the 2020 Los Angeles Dodgers fielded the far superior team from top to bottom. While 1988 remains the most emotionally charged, cinematic championship in franchise history, modern roster construction and historic depth make 2020 the undisputed heavyweight.
Tommy Lasorda's 1988 squad was a band of scrappy, overachieving grinders carried across the finish line by an untouchable ace and an impossible Kirk Gibson home run. Dave Roberts' 2020 club, by contrast, was an analytical juggernaut built to dismantle opponents with relentless plate discipline and overpowering velocity. But comparing them head-to-head requires looking beyond romantic nostalgia to examine how their lineups, rotations, and bullpens actually stack up.
Offensive Firepower: Stunt Doubles vs. An All-Star Gauntlet
Evaluating the 1988 dodgers vs 2020 dodgers on paper begins in the batter's box, where the gap between the two rosters is at its widest.
The 1988 offense was notoriously punchless. Outside of NL MVP Kirk Gibson (.290 AVG, 25 HR, 76 RBI, 31 SB) and steady leadoff man Steve Sax, the regular lineup consisted of role players who simply refused to fold. Mike Marshall provided secondary pop with 20 home runs, and Mickey Hatcher famously turned into an October folk hero, but Los Angeles ranked near the bottom of the National League in nearly every major offensive metric during the regular season. They scored just 648 runs (6th in the NL) and hit a modest 99 home runs as a club. When Gibson tore up his knees, their lineup looked thoroughly outmatched by Oakland's Bash Brothers.
The 2020 lineup, on the other hand, was arguably the most terrifying collection of hitters Dodger Stadium had ever seen. Even across a shortened 60-game campaign, Los Angeles paced all of baseball with 118 home runs—a breathtaking 162-game pace of 318 homers. Mookie Betts altered the franchise's trajectory the moment he arrived, providing Gold Glove defense and an .927 OPS. Corey Seager was an uncontainable force, batting .307 with 15 regular-season home runs before winning both NLCS and World Series MVP honors. Backed by Justin Turner, Max Muncy, Will Smith, and Cody Bellinger, 2020 offered opposing pitchers zero breathing room from spots 1 through 9.
Starting Pitching: The Legend of Hershiser vs. Modern Pitch-Design Depth
When purists weigh the 1988 dodgers vs 2020 dodgers, starting pitching is where 1988 mounts its fiercest challenge, primarily because of one man: Orel Hershiser.
Hershiser's 1988 campaign stands alongside Sandy Koufax's 1963 and 1965 seasons as the pinnacle of Dodger pitching mastery. 'The Bulldog' concluded the regular season with 59 consecutive scoreless innings, posted a 2.26 ERA, took home the NL Cy Young Award, and then threw 42.2 postseason innings with a microscopic 1.05 ERA. Behind Hershiser, Tim Leary had a career year (17 wins, 2.91 ERA), while rookie Tim Belcher provided steady, hard-nosed innings. Yet beyond those three, the rotation had noticeable holes.
What the 2020 rotation lacked in historic, single-arm endurance, it made up for in sheer, suffocating depth. Clayton Kershaw finally shed his postseason baggage, posting a 2.16 regular-season ERA and capturing two crucial World Series victories. Walker Buehler cemented his status as a big-game killer with a 1.80 postseason ERA. Add in a breakout Julio UrĂas—who transitioned seamlessly between dominant starts and multi-inning relief appearances—alongside young arms like Dustin May and Tony Gonsolin, and 2020 had five arms capable of stifling any playoff lineup.
The Bullpen: Old-School Workhorses vs. 100-MPH Waves
Bullpen deployment represents the biggest philosophical divide between these two eras.
In 1988, Tommy Lasorda leaned heavily on closer Jay Howell and versatile setup righty Alejandro Peña. Howell saved 21 games with a 2.08 ERA, but when suspended for using pine tar during the NLCS, Peña and even Hershiser stepped in to seal games. Pitchers were routinely asked to throw multi-inning saves, battle through fatigue, and escape jams without modern pitch-tracking data. They survived through raw willpower and pitch execution.
In 2020, the bullpen functioned like a precision Swiss watch. Kenley Jansen experienced bouts of turbulence, but Dave Roberts deployed an absurd arsenal of high-leverage weapons. Blake Treinen revived his sinker to neutralize right-handers, Brusdar Graterol threw 101-mph bowling balls, and lefties like Jake McGee and Victor González neutralized late-inning threats. The ultimate flex arrived in Game 6 of the World Series, when UrĂas came out of the bullpen to throw 2.1 perfect innings with four strikeouts to capture the title. Across the board, 2020 had vastly more reliable late-inning answers.
Intangibles and Context: 162-Game Grit vs. 60-Game Perfection
Any realistic assessment of the 1988 dodgers vs 2020 dodgers must address the circumstances of their respective championships.
Skeptics often tag 2020 with a pandemic-season asterisk. While playing 60 regular-season games without packed stadiums was unusual, the postseason was actually the most grueling tournament in MLB history. The Dodgers had to navigate four rounds instead of two, including a best-of-three wild-card round and a bubble environment without off-days. Their .717 regular-season winning percentage (43-17) was the third-best in modern baseball history, demonstrating sustained excellence against intense scrutiny.
Meanwhile, 1988 remains the gold standard for pure, unadulterated heart. That squad was never supposed to beat the 100-win New York Mets in the NLCS, let alone a juggernaut Oakland A's team stacked with Jose Canseco, Mark McGwire, and Dave Stewart. Lasorda managed with his gut, challenged his players' pride, and extracted every drop of potential from an imperfect group. The 1988 Dodgers didn't have the better roster, but they possessed a flair for the dramatic that baseball fans may never see again.
The Verdict: Which Dodgers Champion Was Truly Better?
If you simulate a seven-game series between the 1988 dodgers vs 2020 dodgers, the 2020 team wins five or six times out of ten. Hershiser would certainly steal a game or two with his unhittable sinker, but 1988 simply could not score enough runs to keep pace with the 2020 offense over an extended series.
The 1988 championship holds an untouchable spot in Los Angeles sports lore because it felt like a miracle. But the 2020 team wasn't built on miracles; it was built on elite drafting, smart trades, generational talent, and unmatched financial firepower. For pure roster quality, the 2020 Dodgers stand as the best team Chavez Ravine has witnessed in the modern era.
Frequently asked questions
Who was better, 1988 Orel Hershiser or 2020 Walker Buehler?
Orel Hershiser in 1988 was significantly better. Hershiser set the all-time MLB record with 59 consecutive scoreless innings, won the NL Cy Young, and earned both NLCS and World Series MVP honors. While Buehler was an elite postseason performer in 2020, Hershiser's 1988 run is regarded as one of the greatest individual pitching seasons in baseball history.
Was the 2020 Dodgers regular season legitimate despite the 60-game schedule?
Yes. While the schedule was shortened due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all teams played under identical rules. The Dodgers' 43-17 record equates to a 116-win pace over 162 games. Furthermore, they had to win four playoff rounds—more than any previous World Series champion—to claim the commissioner's trophy.
Why were the 1988 Dodgers such heavy underdogs?
The 1988 Dodgers were heavy underdogs because they lacked power and depth compared to their playoff opponents. The NLCS-rival New York Mets won 100 games and dominated L.A. in the regular-season series (10-1). In the World Series, the Oakland Athletics featured a 104-win roster led by the 'Bash Brothers' and Dennis Eckersley, making Los Angeles massive longshots.
Could the 1988 Dodgers lineup handle the 2020 Dodgers bullpen?
It would be an extreme mismatch. The 1988 offense relied on contact, bunts, and moving runners over. Facing 2020 relievers like Brusdar Graterol, Blake Treinen, and Julio UrĂas—all featuring triple-digit heat or wipeout breaking stuff backed by modern analytics—the 1988 lineup would struggle severely to generate late-inning runs.