In what have been two of their most important games to date, the Los Angeles Dodgers have twice made an intriguing, if not curious change atop their lineup. After slotting Cody Bellinger at the top Wednesday, that honor now goes to David Freese for Game 6 of the National League Championship Series.
It gives the Dodgers a fourth different leadoff batter in as many NLCS games. For Freese, it’s the first time he’s atop the order since July 30, 2016, when he did so for the Pittsburgh Pirates.
It’s also just the fourth time batting leadoff in his career. “It’s more of still loving David’s at-bat quality and like him against Miley and just being able to see him a couple of times, depending on how the game goes,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts explained of the decision.
“And I think that we’ve got some balance in there. David’s fine with hitting leadoff and understanding nothing with his approach changes. And I think that, again, it’s a game that you just don’t know how it’s going to unfold.
“So with the way that we structured the lineup and the guys we have on the bench, just kind of gives us a little bit of flexibility on how we want to use the guys on the bench.”
Freese has been everything the Dodgers anticipated since acquiring him at the Aug. 31 waiver deadline. His most notable impact to this point was a go-ahead two-run single to help the Dodgers close out the Atlanta Braves in Game 4 of the NL Division Series.
He’ll now look to tap into his rich postseason history with the club looking to punch their ticket to the World Series for a second consecutive year.
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