Brian Dozier: almighty in Minnesota, a bench warmer in Los Angeles.
Oh how the mighty have fallen is perfectly accurate for the former Twins’ All-Star second baseman, who has gone from a home run-hitting star in Minnesota to a barely-played backup on the National League champion’s bench.
But will that remain the case for Dozier as the Dodgers face the Boston Red Sox in the World Series?
No, at least not in Game 1. Dozier is will start at second base and bat first for the Dodgers. It’ll be just his second start of the postseason.
Dozier has been little-used since being demoted to a bench role in mid-September, having gone to bat just 38 times from Sept. 13-30, and 14 times in the playoffs.
The only game Dozier has started this postseason is Game 4 against the Brewers, when he went 1-for-4 with a walk, hit by pitch and and RBI.
Since then he’s had just three plate appearances, all off the bench and he didn’t play in L.A.’s pennant-clinching Game 7 win against the Brewers.
Why has Dozier been relegated to a bench role?
“It’s been a struggle,” Dozier said in mid-September, per the L.A. Times. “I’ve had a knee issue since the beginning of the year.”
The knee injury has plagued him, making it difficult to swing freely. But Dodgers manager Dave Roberts is trusting Dozier to provide experience against Boston ace Chris Sale, the lefty Dozier is very familiar with from their days as rivals in Minnesota and Chicago.
Dozier is 12-for-47 lifetime (.255 batting average) against Sale with three homers and four doubles.
If all goes well he could be back in the starting lineup for Game 2 on Wednesday. Boston plans to send lefty David Price to the mound for Game 2, who Dozier has faced 39 times in his career and has hits in three of his last six at-bats against him.
