LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers lineup for Game 1 of the wild card series against the Cincinnati Reds features a few familiar faces returning to play. Max Muncy is back at third base and bats cleanup, while Edman bats sixth and starts at second base on Tuesday.
Dodgers Game 1 lineup vs. Reds
Shohei Ohtani DH
Mookie Betts SS
Freddie Freeman 1B
Max Muncy 3B
Teoscar Hernández RF
Tommy Edman 2B
Andy Pages CF
Kiké Hernández LF
Ben Rortvedt C
Edman missed over seven weeks combined on his two injured-list stints, and his right ankle bothered him in the final week of the season. He only played once in the final four games, and that was as designated hitter on Saturday. Edman is playing second base in Game 1, though when he might play the outfield next remains to be seen.
“He aggravated [his right ankle] last week in Arizona playing the outfield,” Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said. “He’ll do whatever. But I think for us, the best chance to keep him going and strong right now is to limit the amount of movement in the outfield. Hopefully we’ll get some days and keep going, and it progressively gets better and better, and it kind of opens that up. But right now we’re erring on the side of caution.”
Muncy was dealing with leg issues after getting hit by a pitch against the Giants, and was rested for each of the final four games of the season.
“I think they’re both in a good spot right now,” manager Dave Roberts said during Monday’s media availability at Dodger Stadium. “I’m glad that we gave Max the weekend. Tommy will now have had two days for that ankle.
With no Michael Conforto on the roster, Kiké Hernández gets the start in left field in Game 1.