Gavin Lux remained out of the lineup for Game 6 of the National League Championship Series as the Los Angeles Dodgers eliminated New York Mets to capture their 22nd pennant in franchise history.
It was a third consecutive game Lux was not in the Dodgers lineup since suffering a hip flexor issue earlier in the NLCS. His pinch hit appearance in Game 5 was Lux’s only at-bat in the Dodgers’ last three games.
However, the decrease in Lux’s playing time also had to do with left-handed starting pitchers on the mound for the Mets in each of those three games he sat. That was especially true in Game 6, where the Dodgers thought it to be more beneficial to give Lux another day to recover instead of putting him in a position he didn’t often fill during the regular season.
Now with a World Series matchup against the New York Yankees on the horizon, the Dodgers don’t see Lux’s injury affecting his availability for Game 1 against Gerrit Cole.
“I expect him to be in there. I think we did a good job of trying to pick our spots to get him a pinch-hit here and there, but not to kind of regress with the hamstring, the hip flexor. I do think with these days off, come Friday, he’ll be a full-go,” manager Dave Roberts said.
Lux has cooled off this postseason after starting off with five hits in 18 at-bats to go along with two walks. He was 0-for-6 in the NLCS with one walk and one run scored. However, Lux makes the Dodgers lineup better with his ability to spark big innings from the bottom of the order, like he did in the NLDS.
Gavin Lux benefitting from time off
By punching their ticket to the World Series in Game 6, the Dodgers afforded themselves five days of rest before the start of their series against the Yankees.
The days off are worth their weight in gold for a Dodgers team that has Freddie Freeman, Lux and others dealing with injuries.
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