Dodgers manager Dave Roberts: Yasiel Puig 'earned the right to be a major league player'
Tuesday’s results provided little clarity in the playoff picture, as all three contenders for the NL wild card won, the Toronto Blue Jays remained atop that race in the AL, and the Boston Red Sox came up short in their attempt to clinch the AL East crown.
Still, there were plenty of developments with postseason implications, most of them coming off the field.
The Los Angeles Dodgers not only announced Clayton Kershaw, Rich Hill and Kenta Maeda will start the first three games of the Division Series against the Washington Nationals – only the home-field advantage is left to be decided – they also officially welcomed enfant terrible Yasiel Puig back into their good graces by saying he’ll be on the postseason roster.
MLB standings: Playoff picture entering Wednesday, Sept. 28
Puig, demoted to the minors on Aug. 2, has been on his best behavior since being recalled a month later (he was not the instigator in the dustup with Madison Bumgarner). Just as important, Puig has provided right-handed punch to a lineup that’s notoriously feeble against lefties, hitting four homers in part-time duty this month.
“It’s tough to humble yourself and check your ego and go to Oklahoma City and be a minor league player,’’ manager Dave Roberts said, “but he did that and he learned from it and earned the right to be a major league player. … He's done a lot to help us win a lot of baseball games.’’
Roberts also left open the possibility of using rookie Julio Urias to start a possible Game 4 against the Nationals, who have to address a major void at catcher after Wilson Ramos was declared out for the year with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee.
Nationals' Wilson Ramos has torn ACL, out for the season
In their first game with Jose Lobaton as the new starter, he caught Max Scherzer’s six innings of two-run ball in a 4-2 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks, but his catching abilities are not really in doubt. It’s the offensive downgrade the Nationals are worried about.
Ramos, who ranks second on the team with an .850 OPS, is batting .330 with nine homers and a 1.008 OPS against left-handers. Kershaw, Hill and Urias are all lefties.
“There’s never an opportune time,’’ manager Dusty Baker said of Ramos’ injury. “This was the most inopportune time.’’
Especially in light of the news on Stephen Strasburg’s availability for the first round of the playoffs.
In the American League, the Blue Jays got two shutout innings from reliever Joe Biagini in their 5-1 victory over the Baltimore Orioles, which could be heartening in light of the news that setup man Joaquin Benoit is likely out for the season after tearing a calf muscle in Monday’s brawl with the New York Yankees.
Benoit had been sensational since joining Toronto in a July trade, registering an ERA of 0.38 and striking out 24 in 23 2/3 innings.
And the Central Division champion Cleveland Indians learned they may get staff ace Corey Kluber back for the Division Series, even if he’s a bit rusty. The reigning AL Cy Young Award winner is expected to be out 7-10 days with a mild quadriceps strain, which could still put him on schedule to start Game 1 of the ALDS on Oct. 6 if he’s a relatively quick healer.
Just in case, the Indians are making contingency plans.
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