Yasiel Puig not in starting lineup as Dodgers face elimination in Game 4
Los Angeles Dodgers manager Don Mattingly made a bold lineup choice with his team facing elimination in Game 4 of their NLDS against the St. Louis Cardinals. No, not starting Clayton Kershaw on three days’ rest.
Mattingly doesn’t have dynamic outfielder Yasiel Puig in his starting lineup. Instead, Andre Ethier is playing center field and batting sixth. At his pregame press conference, Mattingly explained the move as such:
Puig has struggled lately in the NLDS, striking out in seven straight at-bats in Games 2 and 3. He snapped that with a triple to lead off the sixth inning Monday, eventually scoring the Dodgers’ lone run in their 3-1 loss. He was 2-for-4 with three runs scored in Game 1 of the series.
The Cardinals send right-hander Shelby Miller to the mound. Comparing Puig and Ethier’s numbers against right-handed pitching might cause some to second-guess Mattingly’s decision.
Against Miller specifically, Ethier is 1-for-3 this season with a three-run homer while Puig is 1-for-2 with a double.
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Mike Oz is an editor for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @MikeOz
