Dodgers to play Austin Barnes at catcher in Game 6
The Los Angeles Dodgers plan to continue with Austin Barnes at catcher in Game 6 of the NLCS.
The Dodgers played Yasmani Grandal in Games 1 and 3 of the series and lost both games to Milwaukee. After Grandal played poorly both defensively and offensively in Game 3, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts switched to Barnes in Game 4. The defense improved and the team won. Then Barnes delivered arguably the biggest play in Game 5 with an RBI single that not only tied the game, but just as importantly, kept Roberts from pinch-hitting for Clayton Kershaw.
Roberts said Thursday that they will continue with Barnes at catcher.
#Dodgers Dave Roberts on the starting catcher for #NLCS Game 6: “We're going to go with Austin. I think that he's really catching well. He's having really good at-bats. …I think right now Austin makes sense.”
— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) October 18, 2018
The Dodgers would have to be crazy not to continue with Barnes. The numbers are clear: They are 0-2 in games started by Grandal in the series and 3-0 with Barnes.
Game 6 will be in Milwaukee on Friday with the Dodgers leading the series 3-2.
