Taylor could be limited to more of a part-time role to begin 2023 with David Peralta, James Outman and Mookie Betts looking like the Dodgers' primary outfielders, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.
The left-handed bats of Peralta and Outman should have them seeing most of their chances against right-handed pitching, which likely leaves Taylor to start versus southpaws. Taylor certainly didn't help himself with a poor showing during spring training, as he hit .125 and struck out 23 times in 57 plate appearances, which tops his career-worst 35.2 percent strikeout rate from 2022. The veteran utility man should still see fairly regular at-bats between shortstop -- where Miguel Rojas is filling in with Gavin Lux (knee) out for the season -- and the outfield, but Taylor's fantasy utility could be limited unless he's able to make more consistent contact and carve out a larger role.
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Dodgers' Chris Taylor: Yet to get going this spring
Rotowire
Taylor is slashing .115/.281/.115 with four runs and an RBI through 32 Cactus League plate appearances.
Taylor endured his worst campaign as a Dodger last season, slashing just .221/.304/.373 with a career-worst 35.2 percent strikeout rate. The rough season has dropped his fantasy stock considerably, and he hasn't helped buoy managers' confidence by notching just three hits -- all singles -- in 26 at-bats this spring. One thing Taylor does have going for him is his ability to play a number of positions. He's expected to be the Dodgers' primary center fielder this season and should also log a fair amount of time at shortstop, so he'll have ample opportunity to produce.
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Dodgers' Chris Taylor: Will see more time at shortstop
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Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that Taylor will see 20-25 percent of his playing time at shortstop, Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times reports.
Miguel Rojas will see the bulk of playing time at short, but Taylor will rotate in from the outfield approximately every five games. This development comes in the wake of the Dodgers losing Gavin Lux for all of the 2023 season due to a torn ACL and sprained PCL. Be it at short or all over the outfield, Taylor is in for a significant amount of playing time and seemingly a good bet to bounce back from his disappointing 2022 campaign.
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Dodgers' Chris Taylor: To see more time at shortstop
Rotowire
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Tuesday that Taylor will start a throwing program to play more shortstop, David Vassegh of AM 570 LA Sports reports.
This comes on the heels of Gavin Lux's torn ACL diagnosis, which is likely to keep him sidelined throughout the entire 2023 season. Miguel Rojas is the most obvious fill-in at shortstop for Los Angeles, but Taylor has appeared in 259 major-league games at the position and can lend a helping hand as well. Granted, he played only one total inning at short in 2022, so there is going to be a bit of a readjustment here.
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Dodgers' Chris Taylor: In mix to be starter in cener
Rotowire
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told reporters that Taylor is in the mix to be the starting center fielder, Eric Stephen of SBNation.com reports.
Roberts mentions five potential options to be the starter in center, including Taylor, Trayce Thompson, Jason Heyward, James Outman and Bradley Zimmer. The Dodgers non-tendered Cody Bellinger after another disappointing season, and it appears Los Angeles could go with a committee approach for the 2023 campaign. Taylor was also disappointing last year with an OPS of .677 over 118 games while also dealing with injuries, but the 32-year-old's success in the past make him a quality bounce-back candidate near the end of redraft formats.
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Dodgers' Chris Taylor: Starting Game 3 in left field
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Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Taylor (neck) will start in left field Friday in Game 3 of the National League Division Series against the Padres, J.P. Hoornstra of the Los Angeles Daily News reports.
After battling tightness in his neck since the beginning of the month, Taylor will officially make his return to the lineup Friday. He'll be stepping in against southpaw Blake Snell, while Trayce Thompson likely shifts over to center field as a replacement for the lefty-hitting Cody Bellinger.
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Dodgers' Chris Taylor: Remains on bench again
Rotowire
Taylor (neck) isn't included in the lineup Wednesday for Game 2 of the Dodgers' National League Division Series matchup with the Padres.
Though Taylor displayed enough progress over the weekend in his recovery from a sore neck to secure his spot on the Dodgers' NLDS roster, he'll be confined to a bench role for the second straight game to begin the series. Trayce Thompson will pick up another start in left field as the Dodgers roll out the same lineup they used in the 5-3 win in Game 1 on Tuesday.
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Dodgers' Chris Taylor: Sitting out Game 1
Rotowire
Taylor (neck) isn't in the lineup for Game 1 of the NLDS against San Diego on Tuesday.
While he was officially included on the Dodgers' NLDS roster Tuesday, Taylor's neck soreness will push his return to the lineup back a bit further into the postseason. While he continues to heal, Trayce Thompson will start in left field and bat eighth.
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Dodgers' Chris Taylor: Makes NLDS roster
Rotowire
Taylor (neck) will be a member of the Dodgers' roster for the upcoming NLDS against the Padres.
A neck injury has kept Taylor out of action since the end of September, but the Dodgers' bye during the wild-card round evidently gave him time to heal, thanks in part to a cortisone shot. Whether or not he'll be in the lineup in Game 1 remains to be seen.
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Dodgers' Chris Taylor: Testing injury Sunday, Monday
Rotowire
Manager Dave Roberts said Friday that Taylor (neck) will take live at-bats Sunday and Monday, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.
It had previously been reported that Taylor would hit against live pitching Saturday. Although plans have changed and he's going to wait another day, Taylor still appears tentatively on track to make the NLDS roster if his live BP sessions go smoothly. He received a cortisone injection in his ailing neck earlier this week.
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Dodgers' Chris Taylor: Live at-bats coming Saturday
Rotowire
Taylor (neck) has ramped up his rehab work over the past couple days and will hit against live pitching Saturday, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.
Taylor missed the last five games of the regular season due to neck stiffness but remains confident he'll be available for the start of the NLDS on Tuesday. The neck issue responded well to a cortisone injection earlier this week, and a successful live batting practice session could go a long way toward the 32-year-old being cleared for game action next week.
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Dodgers' Chris Taylor: Remains out of lineup Wednesday
Rotowire
Taylor (neck) isn't starting Wednesday against the Rockies.
As expected, Taylor will remain out of the lineup for Wednesday's regular-season finale as he continues to deal with neck stiffness. Per Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register, Taylor will resume baseball activities Wednesday, and manager Dave Roberts said he expects the veteran to be part of the Dodgers' National League Divisional Series roster.
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Dodgers' Chris Taylor: Still out Tuesday
Rotowire
Taylor (neck) is not in the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Rockies, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.
The 32-year-old received a cortisone injection Monday for his neck stiffness and will sit Tuesday for the fourth straight game. According to J.P. Hoornstra of the Los Angeles Daily News, Taylor will also be unavailable for the final game of the regular season Wednesday but is expected to resume baseball activities, and he could play in intrasquad games this weekend, which leaves open the chance of being ready for the NLDS next week.
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Dodgers' Chris Taylor: Gets cortisone shot
Rotowire
Taylor received a cortisone injection in his neck Monday, J.P. Hoornstra of the Los Angeles Daily News reports.
Skipper Dave Roberts is growing more concerned about Taylor's availability for the NLDS, though according to Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register, he remains "hopeful" about the utility man's status. The team will continue to monitor him day-by-day with the goal of getting him healthy enough to play in the first series of the postseason.
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Dodgers' Chris Taylor: Remains out of lineup
Rotowire
Taylor (neck) isn't starting Monday against the Rockies, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.
Taylor is out of the lineup for a third consecutive game due to neck stiffness, but he remains day-to-day for now. Joey Gallo will take over in left field and bat ninth Monday.
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Dodgers' Chris Taylor: Sitting out Sunday
Rotowire
Taylor (neck) is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Rockies, Kirsten Watson of SportsNet LA reports.
The 32-year-old was scratched from the lineup Saturday with neck stiffness and will sit out Sunday for a second consecutive contest. According to Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic, manager Dave Roberts said Taylor's neck is "not great," though the utility man is still considered day-to-day. Trayce Thompson will receive another start in left field for Los Angeles.
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Dodgers' Chris Taylor: Scratched from lineup
Rotowire
Taylor was scratched from the lineup for Saturday's game against the Rockies due to neck tightness, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.
Taylor's initial diagnosis doesn't seem particularly serious, but the Dodgers will be cautious given that they've already secured home-field advantage throughout the postseason. Cody Bellinger was added to the lineup in his place, starting in center field and pushing Trayce Thompson to left.
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Dodgers' Chris Taylor: Productive in lopsided win
Rotowire
Taylor went 3-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored in Friday's 10-1 win over the Rockies.
Taylor scored in the second and fourth innings. He also capped off the Dodgers' eight-run rally in the fourth with a two-run single. He'd gone 12 games without a multi-hit effort, slumping to a .122 average (5-for-41) in that span. The versatile veteran is up to a .221/.304/.373 slash line after Friday's productive game, and he's added 10 home runs, 43 RBI, 45 runs scored and 10 stolen bases through 118 contests.
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Dodgers' Chris Taylor: Steps out of lineup
Rotowire
Taylor is not in the lineup for Sunday's game versus the Cardinals, Kirsten Watson of SportsNet LA reports.
Taylor started the past two games and will take a seat after he went 1-for-6 with two walks and three strikeouts. Joey Gallo is starting in left field and batting seventh in Sunday's series finale.
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Dodgers' Chris Taylor: Retreats to bench
Rotowire
Taylor isn't in the lineup Thursday against the Diamondbacks, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.
Taylor is getting a breather after he went 0-for-11 with four strikeouts over the last three games. Trayce Thompson will take Taylor's place in left field and bat eighth Thursday.
