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Dodger Blue > Dodgers News > 2022 NLDS: Chris Taylor Was Available, But Dodgers Preferred Austin Barnes Against Josh Hader In Game 2
Dodgers NewsFeatured

2022 NLDS: Chris Taylor Was Available, But Dodgers Preferred Austin Barnes Against Josh Hader In Game 2

Matthew Moreno
October 13, 2022
3 Min Read
Austin Barnes, 2021 NLDS
Gary A. Vasquez/USA TODAY Sports
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Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts had asserted Chris Taylor made a full recovery from a recent neck injury, and explained Miguel Vargas was on the postseason roster due to his “hit tool,” yet the team turned to Austin Barnes as a pinch-hitter against the San Diego Padres in Game 2 of the National League Division Series.

Rather than allow Cody Bellinger to face Josh Hader with the tying runs on base and two outs in the eighth inning, Barnes was sent up to bat. The decision was interpreted as Taylor not being healthy enough to play and the moment potentially being too large for Vargas in what would have been his postseason debut.

But instead, Barnes pinch-hitting for Bellinger was simply the Dodgers’ preference.

“Hader is tough on anyone, but I just felt that Austin’s short swing, it’s a flat path,” Roberts explained after his club’s 5-3 loss.

“Hader throws the four-seam fastball. C.T. has a swing that’s more uphill. Austin has had success against Hader. He has seen him as much as anyone has. He took two good swings.”

Barnes flied out to end the inning, and the Dodgers stranded Freddie Freeman’s two-out double in the ninth.

Bellinger went 1-for-3 in the loss, but in the NLDS thus far has four strikeouts in six at-bats. During an April 2019 game in Milwaukee, Bellinger robbed Christian Yelich in the eighth inning and clubbed a go-ahead homer off Hader in the ninth.

Bellinger became the second left-handed batter to ever hit a home run against Hader and just the third player to do so when behind in a two-strike count.

Meanwhile, Roberts reiterated Taylor is healthy and said he will be in the Dodgers lineup for Game 3 when they face Blake Snell. Trayce Thompson will slide over to center field and Bellinger will be benched.

Austin Barnes stats vs. Josh Hader

Including the postseason, Barnes is a career 1-for-7 with one RBI and three strikeouts against Hader.

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TAGGED:2022 NLDSAustin BarnesChris TaylorCody BellingerLos Angeles DodgersMiguel Vargas
ByMatthew Moreno
Matthew Moreno is a journalist from Whittier, Calif., who is a credentialed reporter and is currently the Executive Editor of DodgerBlue.com and LakersNation.com. In addition to covering Los Angeles Dodgers and Los Angels Lakers, Matthew has a strong passion for keeping up to date with the sneakerhead culture. It began with Michael Jordan and Air Jordan shoes, and has carried over to Kobe Bryant's signature line with Nike. Matthew previously was the lead editor and digital strategist at Dodgers Nation, and the co-editor and lead writer at Reign of Troy, where he covered USC Trojans Football. Matthew graduated from California State Long Beach University with a major in journalism and minor in communications. Contact: matt@mediumlargela.com
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