Los Angeles Dodgers bench Yasiel Puig in elimination game vs Cardinals

When Clayton Kershaw takes the mound for the Los Angeles Dodgers against the St. Louis Cardinals on Tuesday afternoon, he’ll notice a change in the defense.

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Out of the lineup will be Yasiel Puig, who Dodgers manager Don Mattingly has decided to bench in an elimination game.

Puig did have a very important triple during Monday’s loss though prior to that had struck out seven straight times. Clearly not seeing the ball well, the Los Angeles Dodgers felt Yasiel Puig would be best served as a bat off the bench instead of being in the lineup against St. Louis Cardinals starter Shelby Miller.

Taking Yasiel Puig’s spot in center field will be Andre Ethier.

Puig not in #Dodgers’ lineup. Crawford hitting second, Ethier in center, batting sixth.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) October 7, 2014

While Yasiel Puig has been sub par for the Dodgers during their opening NLDS series, he’s still a beast in the outfield. You’d assume the Dodgers would want their best defenders in the outfield considering the playoffs are often low scoring, but apparently Mattingly felt as if Puig’s struggles at the plate weren’t worthy of him playing in the field.

It’s definitely a decision that will get a lot of attention, especially if the Los Angeles Dodgers are eliminated by the St. Louis Cardinals in Game 4. If they live to see another day and play in a winner-take-all Game 5, it may prove to be a genius decision.

The life of an MLB manager is not an envious one, that’s for certain.

Despite the benching, it’s very likely we’ll see Yasiel Puig in a pinch hitting role and/or as a defensive replacement if the Dodgers are leading late in the contest.

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