Los Angeles manager Dave Roberts made several changes to his lineup ahead of Game 5 of the World Series on Wednesday night.
read more: bench Andy Pages drops Mookie Betts in major lineup changes for Game 5 of the World Series
Outfielder Andy Pages went to the bench and was replaced by Alex Cole, while Mookie Betts moved to the No. 3 spot and was replaced by Will Smith as the No. 2 hitter.
Roberts made the rationale for these lineup changes as the World Series moves to a best-of-three series and the final game of the season at Stadium is scheduled for Wednesday night.
“Obviously we put Alex in there, but looking at the quality of his at-bats and the pitching, I felt there was a possibility that someone at the bottom could be on base to replace Shohei (Ohtani) at the top,” Roberts said of replacing Pages with Cole in the lineup. “Kiké (Hernandez) in the center and Alex on the left are playing good defense.”
What about the Smith-Betts switch?
“I think that’s the best way to win the game tonight,” Roberts said. “Both players have been alerted and both players are fully present.”
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Pages struggled mightily this postseason, hitting only 4-for-50 (.080) with a .215 OPS. In the World Series, he had just 1 hit in 15 at bats (.067). This postseason, Cole has 4 hits in 9 at bats (.444).
The No. 9 spot is especially important to have someone in front of Shohei Ohtani, who has done most of the damage with the bases loaded this postseason.
Another important spot in the lineup is the No. 2 spot, as the need someone to protect Ohtani and let Toronto throw him.
Betts is just 3-for-19 (.158 batting average) in the World Series this postseason. Smith is 4-for-17 (.235).
Roberts was asked why he decided to demote Betts now, given his reluctance to do so during the regular season.
“I think we have to be a little more reactive in the postseason than we were in the regular season.”
Photo credit: Michael McLoone-Imagn Images
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