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LOS ANGELES — Dodgers rookie Gavin Lux is getting his first October start, just one day after making his first taste of postseason baseball.
Lux came in for a pinch hit at-bat in NLDS Game 1 and hit a home run on the fourth pitch he saw. He said he didn’t have time to process the weight of the moment because it all happened so quickly.
“I didn’t really have time to be nervous,” Lux said. “I was hitting in the cage and Bob [Geren] came down and told me, ‘Hey, you’re going to hit here in the pitcher’s spot.’ So just threw on my batting gloves, threw on my helmet, [and] ran out there.”
Lux will get the start in Game 2 and will be facing the veteran pitcher in Stephen Strasburg. He has never faced Strasburg in his career, which comes with a bit of uncertainty. The young second baseman isn’t wasting any time by utilizing his teammates’ experience against the seasoned right hander.
“I’m just preparing for him and game planning for him and talking to guys that have faced him before,” Lux said. “A lot of preparation, so I’m just excited to get out there and get it rolling. I’m excited just to get out there and compete and see where I match up against [Strasburg and Max Scherzer in Game 3]. So it will be fun.”
As you would expect, manager Dave Roberts is equipping Game 2’s lineup with Lux as well as other powerful left-handed hitters in order to give them an advantage over Strasburg’s right handedness.
NLDS Game 2 Lineups
| Dodgers | Pos | Nationals | Pos |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dodgers | Pos | Nationals | Pos |
| Pederson (L) | RF | Turner | SS |
| Turner | 3B | Eaton (L) | RF |
| Pollock | LF | Rendon | 3B |
| Bellinger (L) | CF | Soto (L) | LF |
| Muncy (L) | 1B | Kendrick | 2B |
| Smith | CF | Zimmerman | 1B |
| Seager (L) | SS | Suzuki | C |
| Lux (L) | 2B | Robles | CF |
| Kershaw (L) | P | Strasburg | P |
You may notice A.J. Pollock, a right-handed batter, is batting in the No. 3 spot. Roberts’ decision to place Pollock in this spot is mostly based on his experience with the matchup as well as recent success.
“Strasburg is sort of neutral,” Roberts said. “[Pollock has] been swinging the bat well for the last five weeks, and obviously the familiarity, the history. So to get him up there to get a few looks at him kind of was my thought.”
Pollock is 7-for-14 with three RBIs and a home run in his career facing Strasburg, so history shows he may find success tonight.
The Dodgers lefties will get started against the Nationals at 6:37 p.m. PT. Game coverage will be on TBS.