LOS ANGELES — One game after making a diving catch in center field, Kris Bryant will make his first start at first base as a member of the Giant on Monday.
He’s played 12 games at first in 2021, but all of them came with the Cubs. In his career, Bryant has made 23 starts there. During the week-long workouts leading up to the NLDS, he worked on his footwork at first — as well as third base — with infield coach Kai Correa. He told KNBR that playing all over the diamond makes him feel like a little leaguer again.
Starting Bryant at first allows the Giants to load the outfield with three left-handed hitters against righty ace Max Scherzer. It also keeps Evan Longoria, a superior fielder to Bryant at the hot corner, at third base.
Scherzer, an eight-time All-Star, has had his fair share of success against many Giants hitters in the past, but has only thrown 12 pitches against SF in 2021.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that unfamiliarity could play to the three-time Cy Young winner’s advantage, but LaMonte Wade Jr. and Evan Longoria disagreed.
The Giants and Dodgers split the first two games of the NLDS at Oracle Park, with Logan Webb leading SF in the opener and LA’s offense igniting in the second.
Below is SF’s full Game 3 lineup against Scherzer, as they look to avoid going down 2-1 and snap Los Angeles’ 12-game unbeaten streak with Scherzer on the mound.
- Tommy La Stella, 2B
- Mike Yastrzemski, RF
- Buster Posey, C
- Brandon Crawford, SS
- Kris Bryant, 1B
- LaMonte Wade Jr., LF
- Evan Longoria, 3B
- Steven Duggar, CF
- Alex Wood, SP