Chris Taylor injures ankle in Dodgers’ NLCS Game 5 win

Chris Taylor injured his right ankle making a throw from left field in the eighth inning of the Dodgers’ win in Game 5 of the NLCS against the Braves. He left Friday night’s game in the ninth inning, but will be available off the bench in Game 6.

“He’s moving around much better. From the training staff to Chris, it’s better than he expected,” manager Dave Roberts said Saturday. “He’s going to kind of keep treating it, move around, and I expect him to be available if the situation calls for it at some point today.”

Freddie Freeman doubled into the left field corner to lead off the eighth inning of Game 5, though Taylor had him thrown out at second base with a strong throw that was dropped by a shifted Justin Turner. On the throw, Taylor tumbled, injuring his ankle.

After meeting on the field with trainers and Roberts, Taylor, who started at second base and moved to left field in the seventh, remained in the game on defense the rest of the eighth inning, but was removed for a pinch hitter in the ninth.

“I think he might have heard some pop, but he’s as tough as they come,” Roberts said Friday night. “He wanted to stay in the game, but I wanted him to get it treated, and the trainers felt the same way.”

Taylor hit .270/.366/.476 this season, and started nine of the Dodgers’ 10 postseason games, including seven starts at second base and two in left field. He is just 5-for-31 (.161) this postseason, but that included a double in the seventh inning of Game 5, later scoring an insurance run.

Taylor is day-to-day, after undergoing strength and mobility straining with the training staff.