One day after becoming the first catcher in MLB postseason history with two passed balls and two errors in one game, Yasmani Grandal was not in the lineup when the Los Angeles Dodgers faced the Milwaukee Brewers in Game 2 of the National League Championship Series.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts maintained the decision did not stem from Grandal’s rough night but rather was a byproduct of matchups.
He did enter off the bench, grounding into a double play to strand the bases loaded. While it initially appeared to be a crushing blow, Justin Turner provided a game-winning two-run home run the next inning.
Now, with the NLCS shifting to Dodger Stadium and the Brewers slated to start Jhoulys Chacin, Grandal is due to be back in the lineup. “He’s caught a lot of innings from Walker and we like that battery,” Roberts said.
“We like him against Chacin. He’s had a lot of success against right-handed hitters.” Grandal is a career 2-for-19 with one home run, two RBI and four walks. He hit .252/.351/.492 with 16 doubles, 20 home runs and 51 RBI against right-handers this season.
When expanding on his expected lineup for Game 3, Roberts intimated it will include the expected left-handed batters. “I don’t know if we’re going to keep the same or could add a little bit in the middle part of the order,” he said. “But I would expect to see those same guys out there.”
Grandal is just 2-for-18 with one home run, one RBI and one walk in six postseason games (four starts) thus far. One of his starts came in Game 3 of the NL Division Series, when Walker Buehler was on the mound to face the Atlanta Braves.
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