Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts stated on multiple occasions the club, front office included, did not view Andre Ethier as an everyday option or candidate to start in left field. He was included on the playoff rosters as a left-handed threat off the bench.
Yet for Game 3 of the National League Championship Series, there Ethier was. Starting in left field and batting fifth.
Like all other decisions for Roberts this postseason, the roll of the dice broke in the Dodgers’ favor. Ethier lined a game-tying home run to right field in the third inning off Chicago Cubs starter Kyle Hendricks.