The Los Angeles Dodgers opened their MLB Playoffs run with a statement win. They got off to a hot start and never looked back. Shohei Ohtani made his presence felt immediately, launching a home run to lead off the game.
“Last year, Shohei Ohtani introduced himself to postseason baseball with a game-tying blast in the second at-bat of his first big league playoff game. He didn’t make the fans at Dodger Stadium wait nearly as long this time around — and he added on another tape-measure blast later in the game,” MLB.com’s Sonja Chen wrote.
The Dodgers rolled to a convincing 10–5 win, despite a near mishap from the bullpen. Another key contributor was Tommy Edman, who added to the early momentum with a solo home run, extending the lead to 5–0.
“Tommy Edman isn’t 100% healthy (and hasn’t been pretty much all year with his ankle) but is giving the Dodgers as much as he can. Last year’s NLCS MVP delivered with a 388-foot home run to give the Dodgers a 5-0 lead,” Dodgers Nation’s Noah Camras wrote.
Edman has been battling an ankle injury throughout the season, raising concerns about possible limitations.
“He kind of aggravated it last week in Arizona playing the outfield,” said Friedman. “He’ll do whatever. But I think the best chance for us to keep him growing strong right now is limit the amount of movement in the outfield,” Dodgers Nation’s Gabe Smallson wrote.
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After the game, manager Dave Roberts made it clear that Edman will be limited to the infield during the playoffs.
“Dave Roberts took Tommy Edman out of the game due to his ankle issue. They’re going to need to continue to manage it, and he’s limited to the infield,” Dodger Blue posted.
Edman tends to shine in the postseason, just like many of his Dodgers teammates. However, keeping him confined to the infield could create ripple effects in the lineup and defensive rotation.
It will be interesting to see how Roberts manages the situation — and who might end up drawing the short end of the stick. One thing is certain: Edman wants to be on the field, and he’ll do whatever he can to minimize the impact of his injury.
