Dodgers’ Ethier to start in series opener against Cardinals
By Jake Misener
According to Jon Morosi of FOX Sports, Los Angeles Dodger outfielder Andre Ethier will be in the lineup for tonight’s NLCS opener against the St. Louis Cardinals.
Morosi reports that Ethier will play center field and bat seventh for Don Mattingly tonight after missing the NLDS due to an injured left ankle that has kept him out of the team’s starting lineup since September 13 – nearly a month ago.
Skip Schumaker started all for NLDS games for the Dodgers, but Ethier offers a left-handed bat to contrast the all-righty rotation of the Cardinals.
After a workout on Wednesday, Ethier was still up-in-the-air for making even an appearance for the Dodgers in the series, but after two days of intense workouts, it appears he is ready to make his return.
"“There are no different answers from two days ago, guys. I don’t know what you guys are looking for. We tried it out today and will try it out again tomorrow. If it feels good, then we’ll be in a better spot than we are right now and we’ll make a decision when it comes Friday.”"
Now that the decision has been made, Ethier will look to get back in the flow of things as the Dodgers look to make their first World Series appearance since 1988.
Ethier, 31, hit .272 for Los Angeles this season with 12 home runs and 52 RBIs in 142 games.