Position-by-position breakdown of Giants-Cubs

For the first time since 1989, the Chicago Cubs and San Francisco Giants will do battle in October. The Cubs cruised into the playoffs with baseball's best record, while the Giants stumbled in the second half and squeezed in via Madison Bumgarner's dominant wild-card game performance. How do these teams stack up against each other? Here's a position-by-position breakdown of this highly anticipated American League Division Series matchup:

CATCHER

Buster Posey remains one of the elite backstops in baseball, and is a franchise pillar in San Francisco. The Cubs have a potential future All-Star catcher in Willson Contreras, who has burst onto the scene this season, while Miguel Montero and the retiring David Ross are both capable veterans at the position. EDGE: Giants

FIRST BASE

While Brandon Belt quietly put together a solid All-Star campaign for the Giants, he's no Anthony Rizzo, who's going to get first-place MVP votes thanks to his all-around play. EDGE: Cubs

SECOND BASE

Ben Zobrist, every manager's favorite Swiss army knife, finally settled in at one position this season, and the Cubs are glad to have him. Zobrist's 4.1 WAR was fourth-most among NL second baseman. The Giants have Joe Panik, who's been excellent with the glove but saw his production at the plate dip dramatically. EDGE: Cubs

SHORTSTOP

San Francisco native Brandon Crawford continues to be a steady hand at shortstop both at bat - he led all of baseball with 11 triples and smacked 12 home runs - and defensively, where he's the defending Gold Glove winner at his position. Addison Russell was less productive with the bat despite his 21 homers, but is a defensive whiz whose abilities are on par with Crawford's. EDGE: Even

THIRD BASE

Conor Gillaspie, who hit the game-winning homer in Wednesday's wild-card game a year to the day after being released by the Angels, is a great story at third base for the Giants. But he's not Kris Bryant, the likely NL MVP and cornerstone of the Cubs franchise. EDGE: Cubs

OUTFIELD

Dexter Fowler has had himself a fine campaign in center for the Cubs, while Jason Heyward's excellent defense helps overshadow his not-so-excellent bat. In left, the Cubs use a multitude of players, including Bryant, Zobrist, and infielder Javier Baez. The Giants have a solid outfield featuring Hunter Pence and Angel Pagan, who have contributed to past San Francisco champions. EDGE: Cubs

BENCH

Thanks to the positional versatility of Bryant, Contreras, Zobrist, Baez, and several others, Cubs manager Joe Maddon has a boatload of choices on his bench. That's a major help to the Cubs, as they can adjust their lineup as the circumstances dictate. Bruce Bochy doesn't have as many weapons on his bench, and one of the Giants' key deadline acquisitions - versatile infielder Eduardo Nunez - is injured. EDGE: Cubs

STARTERS

Chicago's rotation of Jon Lester, Kyle Hendricks, reigning Cy Young winner Jake Arrieta, and John Lackey is as fearsome a foursome as any in baseball, and the Giants will have their hands full. The wild-card game hurts the Giants here, as they'll only get to throw Madison Bumgarner at the Cubs once. The trio of Johnny Cueto, ex-Cub Jeff Samardzija, and Matt Moore are fine, but could have trouble matching the Chicago four. EDGE: Cubs

BULLPEN

Aroldis Chapman has been everything the Cubs hoped for when they traded for him in July, and he's helped shore up the team's only notable weakness. San Francisco's leaky bullpen was part of why they nearly collapsed out of a playoff spot in the second half. EDGE: Cubs