After the Dodgers clinched the NL West last Wednesday, one of the biggest issues for Don Mattingly was how much playing time he should give to the regulars in the last few games. After all, the last thing anyone wants to see is an injury.
And then Dee Gordon left the second-to-last game of the season with a hip injury. Ugh.
What was unknown at the time was just how serious it was, as the Dodgers obviously erred on the side of caution, and rightfully so. An MRI didn't reveal any damage, which was good news.
Even better news came today, as Gordon made it through a workout at Dodger Stadium, and has declared himself good to go for Game 1 of the NLDS.
Despite his numbers dipping in the second half of the season, his presence in the lineup is huge. He can completely turn a game around with his legs. A league-leading 64 RBIs and 12 triples show just how much his speed impacts the game.
What will be fun to watch is Gordon vs. Yadier Molina, one of the greatest caught stealing catchers of all time. Even at 100% strength, swiping any base on Molina is darn near impossible. However, I still think Gordon will step up to the challenge and test his luck.
Keep an eye out for the first time Gordon reaches first. You know that one way or another, he'll be looking to steal second and set the tone for the rest of the series.
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