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Alden Gonzalez, ESPN Staff Writer
LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Dodgers will use hard-throwing right-handed reliever Michael Kopech to open Game 6 of the National League Championship Series on Sunday, a scheduled bullpen game with a chance to advance to the World Series.
Freddie Freeman, who has spent all month battling a sprained right ankle, is not in the lineup against New York Mets left-hander Sean Manea, a particularly difficult matchup for left-handed hitters because of his cross-fire delivery. Freeman took batting practice on the field during Saturday’s workout, but Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said he “just doesn’t feel like himself.”
Freeman is expected to be available to pinch-hit and would probably start against right-hander Luis Severino if the NLCS moves to a winner-take-all Game 7.
With Freeman out of the lineup, the Dodgers moved Max Muncy to first base and Enrique Hernandez to third, with Andy Pages starting in center. The right-handed-hitting Chris Taylor replaced the left-handed-hitting Gavin Lux, who was benched mostly because of the matchup but also because he’s still battling an injury to his hip flexor. The Mets will go with the same lineup that provided them with 12 runs in Game 5, with Brandon Nimmo moving into the No. 2 spot and another left-handed hitter, Jeff McNeil, starting at second base.
The Dodgers had been mostly using Ryan Brasier to start their bullpen games, but Brasier gave up a leadoff home run to Francisco Lindor in a Game 2 loss from Dodger Stadium. Landon Knack, a starting pitcher, followed Brasier and gave up five runs in the second inning, punctuated by a Mark Vientos grand slam.
The Dodgers would ideally get through Game 6 by using their six high-leverage relievers, a list that includes Brasier, Kopech, Evan Phillips, Anthony Banda, Blake Treinen and Daniel Hudson. But they also have to account for a potential Game 7.
“That’s something that we’re all going to have to wait and see how the game plays out, and that will dictate that,” Roberts said of balancing heavy workloads for his relievers with making sure they’re available the following night. “That’s something that certainly has to be in my mind, as well.”