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Gavin Lux Returns to Los Angeles Dodgers' Lineup For NLCS Game 3

Los Angeles Dodgers second baseman Gavin Lux exited Game 1 of the NLCS with a hip injury and went on to miss Game 2, but he will return to action against the New York Mets on Wednesday.
Sam Connon|
Oct 6, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers second baseman Gavin Lux (9) hits a single in the fifth inning against the San Diego Padres during game two of the NLDS for the 2024 MLB Playoffs at Dodger Stadium.
Oct 6, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers second baseman Gavin Lux (9) hits a single in the fifth inning against the San Diego Padres during game two of the NLDS for the 2024 MLB Playoffs at Dodger Stadium. | Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images

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Los Angeles Dodgers

Gavin Lux is returning to the Los Angeles Dodgers' starting lineup for Game 3 of the NLCS against the New York Mets on Wednesday night, the team has announced.

Lux previously missed Game 2 on Monday. He had been available as a potential pinch-hitter, per manager Dave Roberts, but he was not able to play in the field due to a right hip flexor injury that forced him to the bench in the seventh inning of Game 1 on Sunday.

Now, having sat Monday and traveled with the team Tuesday, Lux is starting at second base again on Wednesday. Kiké Hernandez, who replaced Lux at second in Game 2, will move back to center field and push Andy Pages back to the bench.

Getting Lux back in time to face right-hander Luis Severino could prove critical to the Dodgers, who are slated to take on left-hander José Quintana in Game 4 on Thursday. Lux hit .152 with a .394 OPS against lefties this season, compared to his .262 and .739 OPS against righties.

Lux is batting .263 with a .739 OPS so far this postseason. The 26-year-old infielder hit .309 with a .913 OPS from July 20 on this regular season.

Outside of Lux's return, the Dodgers' defensive starters remain the same. The middle of the order has been shuffled around a bit, though, with the full lineup listed here:

1. Shohei Ohtani, DH
2. Mookie Betts, RF
3. Freddie Freeman, 1B
4. Max Muncy, 3B
5. Teoscar Hernández, LF
6. Gavin Lux, 2B
7. Will Smith, C
8. Tommy Edman, SS
9. Kiké Hernandez, CF
SP: Walker Buehler, RHP

First pitch from Citi Field is scheduled for 8:08 p.m. ET. The best-of-seven series is currently tied 1-1.

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Sam Connon
SAM CONNON

Sam Connon is a staff writer covering baseball for “Fastball on SI.’’ He previously covered UCLA Athletics for On SI’s All Bruins site, and is a UCLA graduate, with his work there as a sports columnist receiving awards from the College Media Association and Society of Professional Journalists. Connon also wrote for On SI’s New England Patriots site, Patriots Country, and he was on the Patriots and Boston Red Sox beats at Prime Time Sports Talk. Sam lives in Boston.

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