Tommy Edman starts at second base for the Dodgers in Game 1 of the National League Division Series against the Phillies in Philadelphia, after dealing with a right ankle sprain for the bulk of this season.
Edman on Saturday bats fifth and starts at second base in Saturday night’s series opener.
During the regular season Edman missed 49 games on two injured-list stints due to his ankle sprain, which was aggravated while making a catch in center field in Arizona on September 24. Saturday marks Edman’s third start in 10 days since then, and just the second while playing the field. Edman started Game 1 of the wild card series against the Reds and homered, but left after five innings with a lopsided score to manage the ankle. He did not start Game 2.
The Dodgers are managing a few injuries on the position-player side this October, including catcher Will Smith, who is one of three catchers active on the NLDS roster. Smith was hit on his right hand by a foul ball on September 3, and played only once in the final 23 games of the regular season. He was subsequently diagnosed with a hairline fracture, which healed enough to be available to pinch-hit during the wild card series, though he did not play in either game against the Reds.
Smith is not in the lineup for Game 1 against the Phillies. Ben Rortvedt starts for a third straight postseason game.
“He will be available to catch,” manager Dave Roberts told reporters about Smith’s status during Friday night’s workout at Citizens Bank Park. “Just trying to be mindful of haven’t caught in a long time and then kind of looking at the series and the capacity he can take on.”
“We’re trying to be smart about it,” Smith told reporters on Saturday.
Alex Call also makes his first start of the postseason, in left field on Saturday night against Phillies left-hander Cristopher Sánchez. Call had a pinch-hit single in Game 1 of the wild card round against the Reds.
The Dodgers lineup is right-handed heavy against Sánchez, with Kiké Hernández starting at third base and the lefty-batting Max Muncy beginning the game on the bench.
