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Kiké Hernandez gets the start in left field for the Dodgers in Game 3 of the World Series at Minute Maid Park in Houston, a relatively rare start for Hernandez against a right-handed starter.
Hernandez hit just .159/.244/.255 against right-handed pitchers in 2017, and made 25 of his 71 starts against righties during the regular season. In these playoffs, Hernandez is 3-for-5 with a home run against right-handed pitching.
Astros starter Lance McCullers has reverse platoon splits, limiting left-handed batters to .231/.294/.312 this season compared to .264/.346/.419 for right-handers. This postseason, left-handed hitters are 2-for-21 (.095) against him.
Game 3 lineups
| Pos | Dodgers | Pos | Astros |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pos | Dodgers | Pos | Astros |
| CF | Taylor | CF | Springer |
| SS | Seager (L) | 3B | Bregman |
| 3B | Turner | 2B | Altuve |
| 1B | Bellinger (L) | SS | Correa |
| RF | Puig | 1B | Gurriel |
| 2B | Forsythe | RF | Reddick (L) |
| C | Barnes | DH | Gattis |
| DH | Pederson (L) | LF | Gonzalez |
| LF | Hernandez | C | McCann (L) |
Hernandez is 1-for-2 in his career against McCullers, facing him in 2015.
Other right-handers — Logan Forsythe and Austin Barnes — are also starting for the Dodgers at second base and catcher, respectively.
Hernandez was originally listed as the designated hitter for the Dodgers, with Joc Pederson in left field, but that was later switched. Hernandez is in left field, with Pederson at DH.
Dodgers designated hitters in the World Series (used previously in 1978 and 1988*) are 6-for-27 with a home run and six walks, hitting .222/.364/.333. The home run was hit by Mike Davis in Game 5 of the 1988 World Series in Oakland, in the Dodgers’ 5-2 series-clinching win over the A’s.
*The designated hitter began in the majors in 1973, but wasn’t used in the World Series until 1976. From 1976-1985, the DH was used in every game of the Fall Classic during even years, but not at all in odd years. Beginning in 1986, the practice shifted to what is used now, with the designated hitter used in American League parks only.
Evan Gattis starts at DH for the Astros, batting seventh.