Dave Roberts Knows Who Dodgers are Starting in Center Field for Game 5, But Declines to Share

There are several question marks regarding the Los Angeles Dodgers starting lineup for Friday’s do-or-die Game 5 against the San Diego Padres in the National League Division Series.

One of those was answered on Thursday night when the Dodgers announced Yoshinobu Yamamoto was starting. Now, the biggest question is who will start in center field.

Manager Dave Roberts has three options: Chris Taylor , Andy Pages , and Kiké Hernandez.

Tommy Edman would be an option, but he’s playing shortstop.

Roberts knows who is starting and was questioned about the specific position on Thursday but was coy with his answer. Here’s the entire exchange:

Q. With Rojas, likely out, does that mean Edman at short and trying to figure out what you do in center?

DAVE ROBERTS: Correct.

Q. Do you know what you’re doing in center yet?

DAVE ROBERTS: I do.

Q. Don’t want to share?

DAVE ROBERTS: Not yet.

Both Taylor and Pages have played this series and neither has a hit. Hernández is 2-for-6.

Taylor has appeared in three of the four games and started one. He entered as a pinch runner for Freddie Freeman in Game 3 and was forced to start in center field for Game 4 when Freeman was scratched from the lineup with his lingering ankle injury.

Pages came in for Rojas and went 0-for-2 with a strikeout and a run scored.

Who has the upper hand to start Game 5?

Despite going 0-for-4 in the series with four strikeouts, Taylor is the veteran with postseason experience and has had clutch moments before. With a hostile environment, it might be better to give him the start. If he doesn’t produce early and there is an opportunity to drive in runs, Pages could get the at-bat.

Then, there is Hernández. He hasn’t played center as much as third base this season but he has the most dependable bat out of the three and is the obvious choice.

In two games, Hernandez is 2-for-6 with a run scored and one strikeout.

So who is starting in center field?

If Freeman plays — which is expected — Hernandez will be in center field. If Freeman doesn’t play then it will be Taylor.

Photo Credit: Denis Poroy-Imagn Images

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