ডজার্স ওয়ার্ল্ড সিরিজ লাইনআপ পরিবর্তন বিবেচনা করে; শোহেই ওহতানি টরন্টো গানে হাসে
Sunday, during the Dodgers’ off-day workout, Kiké Hernández took his usual round of infield grounders, then jogged to center field and spent a good deal of time fielding fly balls there. On the eve of World Series Game 3, after they have failed to score more than four runs in nine straight games, the Dodgers are considering a change for Monday – a change that could see second-year slugger Andy Pages benched. While the Dodgers’ overall offense has been inconsistent this postseason, Pages has been the victim of the most precipitous fall. He’s batting .093 with just four hits in 43 at-bats. He has 11 strikeouts, no walks and only one extra-base knock, offering little pop or a 9th-inning spark. Manager Dave Roberts admitted before Game 2 that he was debating whether to keep Pages in the lineup. And though the 24-year-old outfielder, who had 27 home runs and 86 RBIs in the regular season, had a hit and scored a run, Roberts reiterated Sunday that a move with Pages “is still on the table” and “front of mind.” “I’m just trying to figure out where he’s at mentally and physically,” Roberts said. “The performance hasn’t been there. So thinking about other options, yes.” One reason the Dodgers have been hesitant to pull Pages is their limited defensive options – first and foremost, utilityman Tommy Edman is limited to second base this October because of an ankle injury. Edman, who split time between center field and shortstop last postseason, said this weekend that his ankle is feeling better (though he didn’t close the door on potentially needing surgery this offseason). But Roberts said Edman “hasn’t taken a fly ball out there in a month,” casting continued doubt on his ability to play elsewhere. Outside of Edman, Hernández is the only other true center-field option the Dodgers have to use in their starting lineup, having played there during the team’s World Series run last year as well. This season, Hernández has been a fixture in left field (while also mixing in at third base). But if he were to slide over to center field for Game 3, that could open left field for someone like Alex Call. Call, a trade-deadline acquisition who was a part-time player in the regular season, doesn’t represent the same power threat as Pages, but is a better contact hitter with greater on-base ability. Of course, the Dodgers’ offensive inconsistencies go beyond Pages. They haven’t scored more than five runs in a game since the Wild Card Round. As a team, they’re batting just .216 since the Division Series began. Shohei Ohtani and Freddie Freeman are still batting below .225 in the playoffs. Mookie Betts is batting .136 since the NLCS started. During their Game 2 win, Roberts felt the club missed several hittable pitches against Blue Jays starter Kevin Gausman, before Will Smith and Max Muncy eventually hit home runs in the seventh. Roberts felt his lineup was “a little bit in-between” in its approach, missing opportunities to do damage against fastballs over the plate, while also trying to protect against things breaking outside of the zone. “They made good pitches, but we missed pitches, too,” Roberts said. “I think at home, I feel we offensively get back into a little bit of a rhythm.” Maybe shaking up the lineup will help, too.
প্রকাশিত: 2025-10-27 10:40:00
উৎস: www.latimes.com
