The Milwaukee Brewers tried to pull a fast one in Game 5 of the NLCS on Wednesday, but Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts did not fall for the ruse.
The Brewers controversially had lefty Wade Miley start the game, though he only faced one batter before being pulled. The reason for the move was Milwaukee tried to get the Dodgers to stack a more unfavorable lineup of all right-handed hitters to begin the game. However, the Dodgers were wise to the trick.
FOX MLB reporter Ken Rosenthal reported during the third inning that he asked the Dodgers about what the Brewers did with their starter and was told that “maybe [the Dodgers] suspected something was up.”
When the Dodgers faced Miley in Game 2 of the series, they started all right-handed hitters. For Game 5, they used two lefties — Cody Bellinger and Max Muncy — even batting Bellinger in the leadoff spot. They kept Yasiel Puig and Matt Kemp on the bench.
The Dodgers likely would not have started Bellinger and Muncy if they genuinely thought they would be facing a left-handed pitcher for most of the game.
Maneuvers like this one from Milwaukee may lead MLB to look more carefully at implementing a rule, which is something they are considering.
