'A little bit sore,' Bellinger in Game 1 lineup
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Cody Bellinger shrugged off concern over his right shoulder popping out of its socket while he was celebrating during the Dodgers' win in Game 7 of the National League Championship Series on Sunday, and manager Dave Roberts had him in the lineup, batting sixth and playing center field, for Game 1 of the World Series against the Rays on Tuesday night
Nonetheless, Roberts conceded Bellinger was not 100 percent on Monday. The injury occurred when Bellinger forearm-bashed teammate Enrique Hern¨¢ndez during Los Angeles' dramatic Game 7 win over Atlanta.
| Game | Date | Result | Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gm 1 | Oct. 20 | LAD 8, TB 3 | Watch |
| Gm 2 | Oct. 21 | TB 6, LAD 4 | Watch |
| Gm 3 | Oct. 23 | LAD 6, TB 2 | Watch |
| Gm 4 | Oct. 24 | TB 8, LAD 7 | Watch |
| Gm 5 | Oct. 25 | LAD 4, TB 2 | Watch |
| Gm 6 | Oct. 27 | LAD 3, TB 1 | Watch |
Shop for postseason gear: ¡°As I understand it, he¡¯s still a little bit sore,¡± Roberts said Monday. ¡°It¡¯s a loose shoulder. How we handle it going forward is another question. But I think, as far as right now, we¡¯re going to tape it up. There¡¯s a brace that we ordered, and I expect him to be in there [Tuesday] night.
¡°After it came out, defense wasn¡¯t the problem. Potentially, it was swinging the bat, so I¡¯m assuming right now he can swing the bat. Unless I hear otherwise, and if that¡¯s the case, we¡¯ll go in a different direction."
Bellinger appeared to be in pain when he reached the Dodgers' dugout, but he remained in Sunday¡¯s game until the end, recording the final out by catching Austin Riley¡¯s fly ball to center field.
¡°Oh, my shoulder¡¯s feeling pretty good. I know it's happened to me a few times,¡± Bellinger said.
Bellinger has dealt with the chronic condition since he first injured the shoulder diving for a ground ball when he was a first baseman. The injury was a contributing factor to his move to the outfield, where he¡¯s won an NL Gold Glove Award. He said this most recent occurrence is no worse than the others.
¡°It's all the same,¡± Bellinger said. ¡°That's the third or fourth time I've done it. Maybe the third time I've done it, it's all the same and the next day is the same. So, I already know, I already expected what to feel and how I was going to feel. But I feel good right now.¡±
Bellinger started 38 games in center field this year, while AJ Pollock (15), Chris Taylor (five) and Hern¨¢ndez (two) also made starts there.
Worth noting
? Third baseman Justin Turner, who had a key walk and a heads-up defensive play in Game 7, said he was impressed with his teammates talking baseball rather than celebrating after Sunday night¡¯s win, as well as a continuation of that work ethic when Monday¡¯s workout was made optional by Roberts.
¡°We feel good, we know what¡¯s in front of us and the opportunity we have,¡± Turner said. ¡°It¡¯s an optional day today, both buses were packed full of guys getting ready for [Tuesday].¡±
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According to Turner, the Dodgers are embracing the reality of a World Series between the two teams with the best records during the regular season.
¡°When you¡¯re on this road to win the World Series, you¡¯ve got to beat the best to be the best, and that¡¯s what this World Series is going to be about,¡± Turner said. ¡°The Rays played seven games in seven days as well and travel today, so there¡¯s no excuse for anyone. Got to go out and play good baseball.¡±
? Outfielder Mookie Betts sort of bristled at the comparison of the big-market Dodgers to the small-market Rays, as if that should have anything to do with the outcome.
¡°The small-market thing, that¡¯s not on the players,¡± Betts said. ¡°Those guys are ballplayers, and they¡¯re there to win the World Series, just like we are. They¡¯re just in a spot where it¡¯s a small market. But they didn¡¯t make it to the World Series on accident. They¡¯re good ballplayers.¡±
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