Toles’ long journey complete with Game 1 start

WASHINGTON — A year ago Andrew Toles watched every Dodgers playoff game from instructional ball in Glendale, Ariz.

He’ll have a better seat this time around.

The Dodgers haven’t yet finalized their Game 1 lineup, but they’ve finalized Toles — who began the season at Class A Advanced Rancho Cucamonga — as their starting left fielder against Washington for Friday’s series opener (5:30 p.m. ET/2:30 PT on FS1).

Game Date Time Matchup TV Gm 1 Oct. 7 5:30 p.m. LAD @ WSH FS1 Gm 2 Oct. 8 4 p.m. LAD @ WSH FS1 Gm 3 Oct. 10 TBD WAS @ LAD FS1 / MLBN *Gm 4 Oct. 11 TBD WAS @ LAD FS1 *Gm 5 Oct. 13 TBD LAD @ WSH FS1 *- If necessary | All times listed ETShop for postseason gear: Dodgers | Nationals • Complete Postseason coverage

Last October, Toles had never played a game above Class A, having been released by the Rays in the spring. He didn’t play professionally during the 2015 season, before signing a Minor League deal with the Dodgers in September.

Could the 24-year-old rookie ever have envisioned taking the field behind Clayton Kershaw for Game 1 of the National League Division Series?

“Not at all,” said Toles with his trademark grin. “But I’m here now, so you’ve got to make the best of it.”

The decision to start Toles means veteran Howie Kendrick is almost certainly slated for a bench role on Friday. Toles has never faced Nationals ace Max Scherzer, but he is batting .326/.382/.511 against right-handed pitching this season.

Kendrick, meanwhile, is 5-for-14 lifetime against Scherzer and brings a wealth of playoff experience to the Dodgers roster. But he owns just a .521 OPS against …

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