Max Muncy, Joc Pederson return to Dodgers for Game 4
ATLANTA >> Max Muncy is starting at first base and Joc Pederson is in left field for the Los Angeles Dodgers against Atlanta Braves right-hander Mike Foltynewicz in today’s Game 4 of the NL Division Series.
Each sat in Game 3 when manager Dave Roberts started David Freese at first and Chris Taylor in left against left-hander Sean Newcomb on Sunday night.
Yasiel Puig is in right field and Matt Kemp returns to the bench for the Dodgers, who lead the best-of-five series 2-1.
Left-hander Rich Hill is on the mound for Los Angeles.
Roberts said Clayton Kershaw would start Wednesday in Los Angeles if a Game 5 is necessary. He said the decision was simple even though he chose Hyun-Jin Ryu over Kershaw to start Game 1.
“I think that we had our reasons why we decided on Game 1 versus Game 2,” Roberts said. “But if there’s a potential Game 5, we feel very confident that Clayton should be the guy taking the baseball.”
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Braves manager Brian Snitker said he might use Sean Newcomb and Kevin Gausman, the first two pitchers in Sunday night’s Game 3 in a fifth game. Right-hander Anibal Sanchez would be another option.
Julio Teheran, who opened the season as Atlanta’s No. 1 starter, continues to be held in the bullpen for long relief. Teheran was 9-9 with a 3.94 ERA in the regular season. He shared the team lead with Foltynewicz by starting 31 games.
“We had mulled over him making a start, and liked the matchups better with the other guys pretty much,” Snitker said
Snitker moved second baseman Ozzie Albies to the No. 2 spot in the batting order — the team’s third option behind leadoff hitter Ronald Acuna Jr. in the last three games. Third baseman Johan Camargo hit second in the first two games, followed by Ender Inciarte in Game 3.
Camargo is hitting fifth and Inciarte is seventh in today’s lineup.