World Series: Names to know

Cora continues to make easy work of his first year as an MLB manager. The former Astros bench coach led Boston to an MLB-high 108 wins during the regular season and now has his team in the World Series.

Now in his third season with the Dodgers, Roberts has led the team to its second consecutive World Series appearance. The former Red Sox outfielder is thought of fondly in Boston, where he spurred the 2004 ALCS comeback vs. the Yankees with a stolen base.

A defensive specialist behind the plate, Vazquez hit just .207-3-16 in 80 games during the regular season and is 5-for-22 in the postseason with one home run.

Grandal had a strong regular season, hitting .241-24-68, but he's had a postseason he'd like to forget thus far. He's been just 3-for-24 and has struggled defensively.

An outstanding hitter against lefties, Pearce has played first base regularly during the postseason due in part to Mitch Moreland's struggles. After posting a .901 OPS with Boston during the regular season, Pearce is 7-for-26 with one home run in the postseason.

A breakout performer, Muncy hit 35 home runs during the regular season. The versatile infielder is 6-for-33 with two home runs in the postseason.

A four-time All-Star, the 36-year-old Kinsler was acquired at the trade deadline from the Angels. He struggled during the regular season and is 6-for-24 during the playoffs.

Hernandez has outplayed trade acquisition Brian Dozier to earn a spot at second base. He hit 21 home runs during the regular season and is 3-for-26 with a home run during the playoffs.

Devers has shared time at third base during the postseason after hitting .240-21-66 in 121 games during the regular season. The soon-to-be 22-year-old had a great ALCS, including a critical home run in Game 5.

Turner was the 2017 NLCS MVP and has played well during this postseason, hitting 12-for-33 with one home run and four RBI. He hit .312-14-52 after a late start to the season due to a fractured wrist.

Bogaerts is coming off a career year, hitting .288-23-103 during the regular season. His bat hasn't been quite as potent during the postseason, but he's 10-for-36 with one home run and five RBI.

Machado is likely approaching his final games with the Dodgers as a pending free agent. The four-time All-Star hit .297-37-107 during the regular season and was acquired from Baltimore in July. He has three home runs during the postseason but also stirred controversy in the NLCS by making contact with Brewers first baseman Jesus Aguilar.

Benintendi had a productive season offensively despite struggling after the All-Star break, hitting .290-16-87 with an .830 OPS for the year. He's 9-for-38 in the postseason, but his most notable contribution was a game-saving catch at the end of Game 4 of the ALCS with the bases loaded.

Taylor had a breakout year with the Dodgers last year and has shared time between the outfield and shortstop this year. He played left field regularly during the NLCS, going 8-for-22 at the plate and making key plays defensively.

One of the top defensive center fielders in the game, Bradley hit just .234-13-59 in 144 games during the regular season. However, he launched two home runs in the ALCS to help Boston advance.

The 2017 NL Rookie of the Year, Bellinger had a relatively disappointing regular season, hitting 260-25-76. He's also struggled in the postseason, going just 5-for-36 so far.

The likely AL MVP, Betts won the AL batting title and hit .346-32-80 with 30 stolen bases during the regular season. Boston's leadoff man has struggled so far in the playoffs, hitting just 8-for-39 with three doubles. He could get some time at second base in L.A. so that the Red Sox can get J.D. Martinez into the lineup.

The boisterous Puig is having a great postseason, hitting 10-for-30 with a key home run in Game 7 of the NLCS. He hit .267-23-63 during the regular season.

Martinez signed a five-year, $110 million contract with Boston in the offseason, and the signing has paid off in a big way for the team. After hitting .330-43-130 during the regular season, Martinez is 10-for-32 with two home runs and nine RBI in the playoffs over nine games.

Pederson has a chance to get some at-bats as a DH, in addition to playing in the outfield, in the World Series. He's 7-for-27 with one home run this postseason and hit 25 home runs during the regular season.

An All-Star this season, Moreland's bat slowed during the second half of the year. He finished the year hitting .245-15-68 but has seen only 11 plate appearances in the postseason, giving way to Steve Pearce at first base.

Kemp was acquired from Atlanta in the offseason and had a great first half before slowing during the second half. The veteran is just 3-for-14 during the postseason thus far.

Nunez was signed as insurance for Dustin Pedroia at second base last offseason but has spent most of his time at third base during the postseason. Leg injuries limited him late in the ALCS.

A 10-year veteran remembered for his 2011 World Series MVP performance continues to work his magic in the postseason, going 2-for-8 with a home run in the NLCS. He gets opportunities against left-handed pitching.

Holt became the first player ever to hit for the cycle in the postseason when he did so in Game 3 of the ALDS. The utility man is 5-for-15 with one home run and six RBI so far in the playoffs.

Barnes struggled with the bat during the regular season but has picked up playing time in the postseason due to Yasmani Grandal's struggles. He went 2-for-18 with two RBI in the NLCS.

Sale was the front-runner for AL Cy Young until suffering a shoulder injury in August. He still finished the regular season 12-4 with a 2.11 ERA in 27 starts but struggled with his velocity late in the year. He also spent part of the ALCS in the hospital with a stomach ailment.

Kershaw has won three Cy Young Awards as arguably the best pitcher of his generation. He's performed well in this postseason, allowing five runs in 19 innings, and he is set to start Game 1 of the World Series.

The 2012 AL Cy Young winner, Price went 16-7 with a 3.58 ERA in 30 starts during the regular season. The left-hander had a reputation as a poor postseason pitcher but overcame it with a great performance to clinch the ALCS, throwing six scoreless innings.

Ryu was spectacular during his abbreviated regular season with a 1.97 ERA in 15 starts. However, he struggled in the NLCS, allowing seven runs in 7.1 innings over two starts.

Acquired from Tampa Bay in late July, Eovaldi had a 3.33 ERA in 54 innings during the regular season after the Red Sox acquired him. He's meant even more to the team in the postseason, currently 2-0 with a 1.88 ERA in 14.1 innings over three appearances.

Buehler had an outstanding rookie season, with a 2.62 ERA in 137.1 innings. He had a 3.86 ERA in two starts during the NLCS.

Porcello was the 2016 AL Cy Young winner and finished the 2018 season 17-7 with a 4.28 ERA in 33 starts. The durable right-hander has made four postseason appearances this year, including two starts, allowing five runs in 10.2 innings.

Hill had a great regular season with a 3.66 ERA in 132.2 innings and has continued to pitch effectively in the postseason. The veteran lefty starter has allowed three runs in 10.2 innings.

A shutdown closer for most of his career, Kimbrel had 42 saves and a 2.74 ERA in 63 appearances during the regular season. However, he's really struggled during the playoffs this year, allowing five runs in 6.1 innings. His ALCS-clinching save was his first playoff appearance without allowing a run so far this year.

Jansen had an uncharacteristic 3.01 ERA during the regular season but has been lights out in the playoffs. He has six scoreless appearances, including four in the NLCS.