Taylor day to day after injuring ankle in G5
The Dodgers will have to wait and see to determine Chris Taylor’s availability for Game 6 of the National League Championship Series against the Braves on Saturday.
In Game 5 on Friday night at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, Taylor was playing left field in the eighth inning when he chased down a double by Freddie Freeman. After throwing the ball in, Taylor fell to the ground and grabbed his right ankle.
“I think he might have heard something pop, but he’s as tough as they come,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said after the 7-3 win. “So he wanted to stay in the game, but I wanted him to get it treated. Trainers felt the same way. So, day to day.”
Taylor was attended to by the Dodgers’ training staff and stayed in the game, but he was then replaced by pinch-hitter Edwin Ríos for his at-bat in the ninth.
“He’s getting treatment on it,” Roberts said. “He’s going to get some tests, I’m sure, tonight, tomorrow and we’ll see how he comes in.”
Taylor is 2-for-14 with two walks and seven strikeouts in the series.
If Taylor is unavailable to play in Game 6, the Dodgers have other options at both second base and the outfield. Enrique Hernández entered Game 5 in the seventh inning and took over at second (which was what shifted Taylor to left). Hernández has started two games during the NLCS and is 3-for-7 with a home run.
AJ Pollock started in left field on Friday night, while Joc Pederson played there in the ninth after Taylor's exit.