LOS ANGELES — For the first time this postseason, the Dodgers will face a left-handed starting pitcher with Sean Manaea starting for the Mets in Game 2. That led to a few tweaks to the lineup for Monday afternoon at Dodger Stadium.
Gavin Lux sits, which was expected against Manaea, as Lux started only 11 of the Dodgers’ 53 games against southpaw starters during the regular season, and hit just .152/.220/.174 with a 17 wRC+ in his limited time (7-for-46, 50 plate appearances) against lefties. There’s never a good time for an injury, but Lux leaving Game 1 on Sunday night in the seventh inning with a hip flexor strain was about as conveniently timed as possible.
NLCS Game 2 lineups
| Mets | Pos | Dodgers | Pos |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mets | Pos | Dodgers | Pos |
| Lindor (S) | SS | Ohtani (L) | DH |
| Vientos | 3B | Bettts | RF |
| Nimmo (L) | LF | T.Hernández | LF |
| Alonso | 1B | Freeman (L) | 1B |
| Marte | RF | Smith | C |
| Winker (L) | DH | Edman (S) | SS |
| Iglesias | 2B | Muncy (L) | 3B |
| Taylor | CF | K.Hernández | 2B |
| Alvarez | C | Pages | CF |
Lux is feeling better on Monday, manager Dave Roberts said, and could be used to pinch-hit at some point in Game 2. But it’s unlikely Lux plays defense in this one.
Kiké Hernández gets the call at second base, making his fourth consecutive start, after starting at third base in Game 4 of the NLDS and in center field for the last two games. His home run in Game 5 provided half of the Dodgers’ offense, and he had two hits in each of the other two starts, giving him five hits in his last 11 at-bats.
With Tommy Edman expected at shortstop all series while Miguel Rojas is sidelined, center field becomes a daily decision. That falls to Andy Pages on Monday, the first playoff start for the rookie. Pages played in each of the last four games but only batted in Game 3 in San Diego, going 0-for-2 with a strikeout.
Pages this year against left-handed pitchers hit .357/.396/.520 with a 157 wRC+ in 107 plate appearances.
The Dodgers flipped the heart of the order, with Teoscar Hernández hitting third and Freddie Freeman batting cleanup. They did this four times in September as well against some left-handed starters.
Ryan Brasier is first up on the mound on Monday for the Dodgers. His second start in four games ties him with Ralph Branca, Corey Knebel, and several others for 39th on the all-time Dodgers postseason starts list.
it’s been called a bullpen game for a few days, but Roberts said Monday morning that Landon Knack will pitch at some point and could “take down most of the outs.”
Dodgers pitchers enter the day with a scoreless streak of 33 innings that is tied with the 1966 Orioles for the longest streak in postseason history. Brasier is one of a dozen different pitchers to have contributed to the streak.