Dodgers Interview: Edman appreciates the chance to close it out in front of home fans
LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers are a win away from their second straight NLCS, and Tommy Edman is playing like the gamer he is. Though still hobbled by an injured ankle, Edman has been able to go deep twice this October, a welcome sight to those who remember his heroics from 2024.
“My ankle is definitely getting better,” Edman said before Thursday’s game. “I didn’t feel great at the end of the year, but having a couple days off in Seattle helped it recover. It’s at a point where it’s manageable now.” Asked about the seventh-inning collision with Bryce Harper on Wednesday, he kept it simple: “I just got hit in the stomach and got the wind knocked out of me. Nothing happened with the ankle there.”
Positionally, don’t expect a surprise outfield cameo just yet. “That’s a coaching decision,” he said. “I haven’t really taken any reps out there yet, but as we get further on in the postseason and the ankle starts to feel better, maybe I’ll try to get out there. For now, probably not.”
The focus today is Sánchez, whom the Dodgers saw in Game 1. “He’s a really good pitcher. All his stuff moves all over the place,” Edman said. “You have to be prepared for how much his sinker and changeup and slider are going to move. After seeing those pitches a few more times, we should have a better idea of where they’re going to end up and where they need to start.” He added later, “Knowing how much his pitches move, we just have to do a better job of looking for them to start in a certain spot. Our game plan is a little more refined. We have a better idea of what his pitches look like now.”
The odd playoff cadence hasn’t rattled him. “Over the course of the season you have a lot of weird travel days and quick turnarounds,” he said. “We’re accustomed to adapting and figuring it out on the fly. It doesn’t feel too much different than the regular season. We’ll be ready and prepared how we normally would.”
Edman also walked through the swing tune-ups that have fueled his crisp contact. “It’s more staying taller and not collapsing my backside,” he explained. “I got into some bad habits in the middle of the year, so I make that a priority during pregame work in the cage and BP—little mechanical changes like that.”
There’s a shared incentive to close tonight. “We’d love to avoid the five-hour flight and the time change if possible,” he said. “We’re going to do our best to end the series here and not have to go back to Philly.”
How playable would the ankle be in a different context? Edman didn’t hesitate. “If this were a September game and we were out of the race, I’d still be playing,” he said. “It feels like a normal, somewhat sore ankle—nothing that would keep me out.”
The San Diego-area native also acknowledged the scene at Chavez Ravine. “It’s always fun coming back,” he said. “You get really good weather, good crowds, and a historic stadium with a good environment. I’ve really enjoyed playing here the last year and a half.”
One more note on that Harper tag at first: “It didn’t affect my ankle,” Edman said. “He’s a strong dude, so he can apply a strong tag. I told him I’d truck him next time—jokingly.” And on the moment-to-moment mindset for Game 4, he kept it where it’s been all October. “We’ll be ready,” he said. “It’s about being familiar with what we’re seeing and executing early.”
Tonight is another chance to make that happen—no flights, no resets, just the same steady plan. “We’ll be prepared how we normally would,” Edman said. “It doesn’t feel too much different.”
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