For the second time in the three days since Carlos Ruiz joined the Dodgers, the team faced a left-handed starter. This time, Ruiz was on the bench.
When the Dodgers traded A.J. Ellis to the Philadelphia Phillies for Ruiz last week, they said Ruiz could help win games against left-handers. Ruiz has an .856 OPS off left-handers, as compared with .616 for Ellis and .803 for Yasmani Grandal, the Dodgers’ starting catcher.
On Sunday, the Cubs started lefty Jon Lester, against whom Ruiz is hitless in 14 career at-bats. Dodgers Manager Dave Roberts said that track record was a secondary factor in the decision to start Grandal over Ruiz.