MLB: Joe Kelly to open Game 5 for Dodgers

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Joe Kelly will open Game 5 for the Los Angeles Dodgers on Thursday night, as the defending World Series champions try to stave off elimination in the National League Championship Series.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts also announced that Andy Burns is taking the roster spot of third baseman Justin Turner, who is done for the postseason with a left hamstring strain.

Chris Taylor is getting the start at third base Thursday night. Cody Bellinger is playing center field and Albert Pujols draws the start at first.

Kelly will be making his fourth appearance in the NLCS. He’s pitched 2 1/3 scoreless innings with four strikeouts in the NLCS against the Atlanta Braves, who lead the best-of-seven series 3-1.

Kelly is 1-0 in six postseason appearances overall.

The Braves are trotting out starting pitcher Max Fried, who took a no-decision in Game 1, a Braves win, with two runs allowed in six innings. He struck out five.

Burns played in just nine games for the Dodgers during the regular season, batting .273 in 15 plate appearances. Burns signed with the Dodgers on Sept. 10 after being released by the club in July.

Roberts said he likes Burns’ defensive versatility. The 31-year-old played three games at second base, and two each at third and first. He also pitched an inning in a 12-1 blowout loss to the Texas Rangers in June.

Turner sustained a grade 2 hamstring strain during Wednesday’s Game 4 loss.

Turner grounded into a double play and appeared to be in pain while running halfway up the first base line. He was replaced at third base in the top of the eighth inning by Taylor, who moved in from center field.

Turner, who turns 37 next month, also was out of the starting lineup in Game 2 because of neck stiffness. He is 4-for-34 (.118) in 10 games this postseason with just one extra-base hit, a home run in the wild-card victory over the St. Louis Cardinals.

–Field Level Media

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