LA relying on Grandal’s expertise behind plate

WASHINGTON — Throughout a season in which the Dodgers used 15 starting pitchers, the staff’s lone constant has crouched behind the plate.

Yasmani Grandal had a solid 2016 season with his bat — setting career highs in home runs, RBIs, OPS and slugging percentage — but his greatest importance in the National League Division Series against the Nationals comes on the other side of the game. Los Angeles leads the best-of-five series, 1-0, with Game 2 set for Sunday (FS1, 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT).

Game Date Time Matchup TV Gm 1 Oct. 7   LAD 4, WAS 3 Gm 2 Oct. 9 1 p.m. LAD @ WSH FS1 Gm 3 Oct. 10 4 or 6 p.m. WAS @ LAD MLBN *Gm 4 Oct. 11 5 or 8 p.m. WAS @ LAD FS1 *Gm 5 Oct. 13 5 or 8 p.m. LAD @ WSH FS1 *- If necessary | All times listed ET • Division Series start time scenarios • Dodgers vs. Nationals NLDS coverageShop for postseason gear: Dodgers | Nationals

Despite two full seasons with the Dodgers, Grandal has oddly little experience catching L.A.’s playoff rotation. Game 1 starter Clayton Kershaw threw to A.J. Ellis almost exclusively until Ellis was traded in August; Game 2 starter Rich Hill arrived from …

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