The Dodgers lineup against the Brewers in Game 1 of the National League Championship Series on Monday night in Milwaukee looks an awful lot like their previous lineups this postseason, but with Max Muncy back at third base, batting seventh.
Muncy this postseason has five hits, including a double, in 16 at-bats, with three walks and a hit by pitch, hitting .313/.450/.375 so far.
With Muncy batting seventh, Shohei Ohtani leading off, and Freddie Freeman batting cleanup, their three left-handed hitters all have at least two right-handed batters or switch-hitters in between them, making it more onerous for using a left-handed reliever to face them.
The Brewers are using an opener in Game 1, with left-hander Aaron Ashby their first pitcher of the night. Milwaukee manager Pat Murphy said right-hander told reporters during his media availability Quinn Priester will likely pitch in bulk relief at some point.
Andy Pages has just one hit in 24 at-bats in six games this postseason, and is batting ninth for the second straight game. After batting seventh and sixth in two wild card games against the Reds, Pages batted eighth in the first three games against the Phillies and batted ninth in Game 4 of the NLDS on Thursday. He was even pinch-hit for late in Game 3, in favor of another right-handed hitter in Miguel Rojas.
“He’s been pressing. I don’t think that he is exactly synced up maybe mechanically. I think he’s just tentative. I think that they’re bullying him with the fastball at the top of the zone,” manager Dave Roberts said of Pages last Thursday. “He’s underneath and he’s late. And he’s just not convicted in his at-bats. And then balls are in the hitting zone, and he’s just not getting off the swings that he needs to.”
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