The Los Angeles Dodgers have prided themselves on depth and versatility all season, seemingly having a different lineup every day due to players’ abilities to play different positions.
With the postseason starting this week, it looks like they are beginning to cut down on all of the lineup and position changes with a handful of players separating themselves from the rest. Chris Taylor again went into 2020 as a utility player, epitomizing what this organization is about.
He has played second base, shortstop, left field and center field, bring Gold Glove-caliber defense to the table no matter where he is at.
He has also swung the bat really well this season, hitting .277/.376/.492 with eight home runs and 32 RBI in 54 games going into play Sunday. Taylor has been able to cut down strikeouts and increase his walk rate, making him one of the most complete players in the league.
Most of the Dodgers’ starting position players have been set all year, although no one has quite claimed second base. Gavin Lux and Kiké Hernandez have both seen time there, but Dodgers manager Dave Roberts anticipates Taylor being his starter at the position in October.
“I don’t know yet, but I do know that C.T. is going to get a lot of playing time. I can see him playing there every day,” he said.
This is the best Taylor has played since his breakout season in 2017 when he was a huge catalyst for the Dodgers’ lineup. Even if he will be starting at second on most nights, he likely will still move around the diamond as needed.
Corey Seager is of course the shortstop, but if the team wants to use his as a designated hitter once every few games then Taylor would slide over to take his place.
Roberts still looking to get opportunities for Lux & Hernandez
While Taylor will be the team’s starter, Roberts still hopes to get opportunities for both Hernandez and Lux. Hernandez, in particular, is still very much in the mix and will take over Taylor’s role as the primary utility man.
Roberts revealed that he doesn’t see Lux starting at second base in October, but he could be a bat off the bench that also provides some speed if he makes the roster. The hope was that Lux would be a bigger contributor but his season got off to a rough start and he never quite recovered and got back on track.
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