MILWAUKEE -- Dodgers manager Dave Roberts started Player Page for Max Muncy at first base and Chris Taylor at second base in the decisive National League Championship Series Game 7 on Saturday night.
Muncy came into the game hitting .167 (3-for-18) with one RBI, three walks, 10 strikeouts and a .452 OPS in the NLCS. Roberts could have started David Freese at first, particularly because he has done well against the Brewers over the years. Plus, Freese is a clutch postseason performer. He has a 1.083 OPS in nine NLCS plate appearances against Milwaukee and a career .883 OPS in 208 postseason plate appearances. Freese homered and doubled in a 7-2 loss in Game 6.
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It is not like Freese's season platoon splits are wildly drastic, either. He had a .786 OPS vs. right-handers compared to an .876 OPS against left-handers.
"I do believe that there's been some swing-and-miss with Max," Roberts said, when asked why he started Muncy over Freese. "I still like him in the batter's box, I do. [Brewers right-hander Jhoulys] Chacin has made some good pitches on him as [have] their guys in the bullpen. I also feel that Freese is a very good weapon in a selected spot off the bench. And I still trust Max's ability to get on base and potentially slug for us."
Taylor started at second for the first time this postseason, although he has played there four times. He played 12 regular-season games there, starting five times.
Pederson good to go
Joc Pederson, struck on the right wrist by a 96 mph fastball from Corey Knebel in Game 6, was in the starting lineup for the Dodgers, leading off and playing left field.
Pederson did not take batting practice on the field with the rest of the squad before Game 7, but Roberts insisted Pederson's wrist was sound and that the outfielder took his batting practice in the indoor batting cage, along with Yasiel Puig. The rest of the club took batting practice, as usual, on the field.
Pederson is 3-for-12 in the series, with a walk and four strikeouts.