Max

Muncy

Tucker hadn’t hit higher than sixth in the postseason. Tonight, Shohei Ohtani has been dropped to sixth, and Max Muncy is sitting initially against left-hander Robert Gasser. The lineup: SS Mookie Betts, 1B Freddie Freeman, LF Teoscar Hernández, RF Tucker, CF Andy Pages, DH Ohtani, C Will Smith, 3B Miguel Rojas, 2B Tommy Edman.

Muncy went deep for the third time this postseason, supplying a critical insurance run for Los Angeles with a ninth-inning blast to right field off Atlanta closer Raisel Iglesias to put them up by three runs. The 36-year-old third baseman is up to 19 career playoff round-trippers dating back to 2018.

This is a little surprising, since Muncy would probably face Kerr just the once, but they’ll go with Miguel Rojas initially. That’s the lone change from Saturday, which was also against a lefty opener in Dylan Dodd. The lineup: SS Mookie Betts, DH Shohei Ohtani, C Will Smith, 1B Freddie Freeman, LF Teoscar Hernández, RF Kyle Tucker, CF Andy Pages, 3B Rojas, 2B Tommy Edman.

Max Muncy is also taking a seat with lefty Matt Wilkinson serving as San Francisco’s opener. It appears to be a routine off day for Freeman, who missed time with a right knee issue a couple weeks ago. The 37-year-old veteran has already played 152 games this season, hitting .290/.364/.432 with 74 runs scored, 16 homers, 70 RBI and seven steals in 654 plate appearances. It’ll be Enrique Hernández and Miguel Rojas at the infield corners in this one.

Muncy scored the go-ahead run on Kiké Hernández’s double in the seventh and then singled in an insurance run in the eighth. He has seven hits, including a homer and three doubles, in his last four games.

Muncy drove in two on a fourth-inning double that gave him 73 RBI on the season. He came into this one hitting just .239/.352/.435 in September with three RBI and a 17/6 K/BB ratio. He also had only one multi-RBI game since August 21st, so perhaps this gets him going a little bit.

He’s batting eighth against a lefty. Kiké Hernández is playing third base and batting ninth.

Muncy was in the club’s original lineup, but he was feeling a bit under the weather as game time approached so the Dodgers opted to play it safe and give him the night off. Enrique Hernandez will cover third base in his absence and bat ninth against Cade Cavalli and the Nationals.

The 36-year-old slugger will take a seat with left-hander Framber Valdez toeing the slab for the Tigers. Miguel Rojas will start in his place at the hot corner and will bat sixth for the Dodgers on Sunday afternoon at Comerica Park.

They’ll take a seat against LHP Chris Sale. Alex Call will draw the start and bat seventh for Tucker; this appears to just be a routine day off. Enrique Hernández is playing third for Muncy and Muncy appears to be in some danger of losing at-bats against lefties now that Hernández is back.