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Gavin Lux will start in left field for the Dodgers against the San Diego Padres on Friday.
(Marcio José Sanchez / Associated Press)
Cody Bellinger is a Gold Glove outfielder. Gavin Lux has never played on the outfield in his major league career.
The Dodgers gave Lux two chances to claim his second baseman title. He failed both times. His career batting average is 0.217.
For now, however, Bellinger has gone so badly at bat that the Dodgers have pulled him out of roster. Lux played at left field in a triple A game on Thursday – his first professional start at the position – and the Dodgers called him back on Friday and started him at left field.
This, at a critical point in the season: The Dodgers opened the game Friday to three games behind the San Francisco Giants in National League West, with 21 games to go. The deficit is the Dodgers’ biggest deficit since Aug. 18.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has said Bellinger will not play for several days.
“I’m going to give Cody a few days to work on some stuff,” Roberts said.
2019 National League MVP Bellinger has 0 for September
He hasn’t had any homeruns since Aug. 11 and no hits since Aug. 17. His batting average of .158 and OPS of .524 are the lowest among the major leagues with at least 300 home plate appearances.
At one point, the Dodgers had planned to curl up Bellinger, but AJ Pollock was injured. Lux, like Bellinger, is left-handed.
Although Lux played one game at left field and one at center field in triple A, Roberts said Lux had trained a lot in the outfield. Roberts also said Lux could see the time at second and third base as well.
Beyond this season, Roberts said, the Dodgers still see him as an everyday player.
To clear a berth for Lux, the Dodgers sent pitcher Andre Jackson back to triple A from Oklahoma City.
The Dodgers roster for Friday’s game against the San Diego Padres:
Mookie Betts, RF
Max Muncy, 1B
Trea Turner, 2B
Corey Seager, SS
Justin Turner, 3B
Will Smith, C
Gavin Lux, LF
Chris Taylor, CF
Julio Urias, P
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