While the Los Angeles Dodgers relied on their depth to get through the past two seasons, manager Dave Roberts recently acknowledged he was looking to field a more set lineup in the final weeks leading up to the playoffs.
The Dodgers primarily remain unsettled in left field, though catcher and second base are two additional positions where there’s at least some conversation over who the regular starter should be. Los Angeles though they had an answer in left in the form of Cody Bellinger, then Chris Taylor.
Injuries or a lack of production have required Bellinger to become the everyday first baseman, while Taylor is now playing center field.
During an interview with Fred Roggin and Rodney Peete on AM 570 L.A. Sports Radio, Roberts touched on needing to find a solution in left field:
“We can all see that this left field situation, we need to figure out. Whether it’s Joc Pederson, whether it’s Andre Ethier, Curtis Granderson, and obviously we’ve seen a little bit of Alex Verdugo. … I think the left field situation is really something we’ve got to pin down.”
The Dodgers acquired Curtis Granderson last month and optioned Joc Pederson to Triple-A Oklahoma City so as to allow him to work on a new batting stance and swing out of the spotlight. That moved Taylor to center field, though Granderson himself has struggled.
Roberts has continued to provide Granderson with ample opportunities to break out of the slump, and he’s voiced confidence in the veteran outfielder. Granderson does bring a wealth of postseason experience and a keen eye at the plate.
Roberts previously cautioned Ethier was not capable of playing every day due to missing essentially two full seasons because of injuries. Alex Verdugo was once believed a candidate to potentially crack the postseason roster, but the likelihood has waned.
