Kyle Tucker started the season as the Dodgers’ No. 2 hitter.
asserted
Tucker → start → hitter
There’s a chance he ends it batting in that spot.
asserted
he → ’ → spot
By the time the Dodgers reach the World Series, Kyle Tucker — yes, that Kyle Tucker — could be back in the heart of their order.
uncertain
Tucker → reach → order
That probably won’t happen over the remainder of the National League Division Series against the Braves.
asserted
That → happen → Braves
But making the $240 million disappointment a focal part of the offense will be something the Dodgers might have to eventually consider, especially if their two best left-handed hitters prove to be physically compromised.
uncertain
hitters → make → offense
Shohei Ohtani isn’t expected to be close to full strength in these playoffs because of discomfort in his right arm and left knee.
asserted
Ohtani → expect → arm
Freddie Freeman is dealing with a right knee problem.
asserted
Freeman → deal → problem
Ohtani batted second for the Dodgers in the first two games of the NLDS, and Freeman batted cleanup.
asserted
Freeman → bat → NLDS
Each of them collected a single on Saturday in their 5-3 win in Game 1, with Freeman also drawing a key fourth-inning walk that set up a two-run home run by Teoscar Hernandez.
asserted
that → collect → Hernandez
Manager Dave Roberts isn’t about to drop Ohtani or Freeman in the order.
asserted
Roberts → drop → order
The more games the Dodgers play, however, the more Ohtani’s and Freeman’s bodies could feel it, and that could require Roberts to rethink whether Tucker should continue batting in the bottom half of the lineup.
uncertain
Tucker → play → lineup
Batting sixth, Tucker was 2 for 4 with a two-run home run that was ultimately the difference for the Dodgers in Game 1, but the idea of him taking a more prominent role in the offense shouldn’t be viewed as an overreaction to an isolated incident.
asserted
him → bat → incident
This was the version of Tucker who quietly emerged over the second half of September as the Dodgers cruised into the postseason.
asserted
Dodgers → emerge → postseason
Over his final 17 regular-season games, Tucker batted .333 with five home runs and 11 RBIs.
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Tucker → bat → runs
He registered an OPS of 1.072.
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He → register → 1.072
Tucker had a number of teases over a grueling regular season, showing flashes of the hitter he used to be, only to immediately revert back to his season-long slump.
asserted
he → have → slump
Statistically, he finished with his worst regular-season numbers since becoming a full-time player, as he batted .233 with 17 home runs and 70 RBIs.
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he → finish → runs
Because they had a bye in the wild-card round, the Dodgers had a five-day break between their regular-season finale in San Francisco and their opening game of the NLDS.
asserted
Dodgers → have → NLDS
Considering how many stop-and-gos Tucker experienced in the regular season, the fact he was able to maintain his form over five days of inactivity was a promising sign.
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he → consider → inactivity
“Everyone stayed ready,” Tucker said.
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Tucker → stay → ?
Everyone was prepared for what we needed to do once these games started.
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games → need → what
They’ve been doing it for a while now.
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They → do → while
Everyone kind of has an idea of what they need to do once these games roll around.
asserted
games → have → what
Tucker wasn’t the same after breaking his right hand while playing for the Cubs last year, and Dodgers coaches think they have unlocked something to offset the physical changes that he might have undergone then.
uncertain
he → break → that
If they did, they might have found a luxurious insurance policy for Ohtani and Freeman.
uncertain
they → do → Ohtani
Given where Ohtani and Freeman are physically, Tucker could be positioned to provide something they might not be able to: power.
uncertain
they → give → something
The Dodgers are generally a home run-dependent team, and the low-scoring environment of the postseason will make them even more so.
asserted
them → score → postseason
To that point, every run they scored in Game 1 was scored via the home run.
asserted
they → score → run
Regardless of whether Tucker moves up in the order or just adds length to the lineup, the Dodgers will be delighted if he continues to hit — delighted for not only the team but also for Tucker individually.
asserted
he → move → Tucker
“I think we all know the struggles he had this year,” Roberts said.
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Roberts → think → struggles
“I give him a lot of credit for grinding through it, not running from it, always posting and kind of getting to the other side of it.
asserted
I → give → it
He might now be ready to deliver for the Dodgers when they need it most.
uncertain
they → deliver → it
The Aporia
