31 Joc Pederson CF

Pederson said he is eager to take on an everyday role with the Cubs and face more left-handed pitching, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

While in Los Angeles, Pederson rarely faced lefties, registering an average of 54 plate appearances per season against southpaws between 2017 and 2019, and only 10 in the abbreviated 2020 campaign. However, Chicago manager David Ross has indicated that Pederson could play more frequently against lefties. This could help the 28-year-old approach the 151 games he played back in 2015, his second season in the majors.

Chicago manager David Ross said he could use Pederson against both righties and lefties this year, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

"The conviction he had and the belief he had in being good against both sides of pitchers is something that he sold me on," Ross said. "And I thought we had a great opportunity for him." Pederson mainly avoided lefties when he was in Los Angeles, and he has a career .576 OPS against southpaws, compared to an .849 OPS against righties. It sounds like the 28-year-old might not start the year in a platoon situation, but if he struggles against lefties, he could lose some at-bats to Jake Marisnick.

The Cubs are likely to use Ian Happ as their leadoff hitter to begin the season instead of Pederson, Tim Stebbins of NBC Sports Chicago reports.

Pederson batted first 249 times during his seven seasons with the Dodgers, but Chicago manager David Ross said he's likely going to stick with Happ, who was the team's primary leadoff hitter last season. Pederson should still play regularly in left field, essentially replacing Kyle Schwarber, and get plenty of opportunities to produce at the plate.

Pederson agreed to a contract with the Cubs on Friday, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.

According to Jeff Passan of ESPN.com, the agreement is for one year and $7 million. Pederson struggled during 2020 with a .682 OPS before hitting well during the playoffs, but he also had an .818 OPS over the previous five seasons for the Dodgers. The 28-year-old mostly operated as a platoon player for Los Angeles since 2016, and that trend could continue in Chicago. However, former Cub Kyle Schwarber was an everyday starter in left field, and Pederson could be plugged directly into that role. He came into the league seeing most of his time in center field before transitioning to the corner outfield for the past few seasons.

Pederson will be on the bench for Game 6 of the World Series against the Rays on Tuesday, Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times reports.

As usual, Pederson hits the bench with a lefty (Blake Snell) starting for the opposition. A.J. Pollock will be the left fielder Tuesday, with Will Smith serving as the designated hitter and Austin Barnes catching.

Pederson went 1-for-2 with a solo home run Sunday in the Dodgers' 4-2 win over the Rays in Game 5 of the World Series.

Pederson turned in a big weekend as the Dodgers pushed their series lead to 3-2, going 4-for-7 with three RBI and two runs between Games 3 through 5. He was nearly the hero of Saturday's Game 4 after providing a go-ahead, two-run single in the top of the seventh, but the lead changed two more times before the Rays walked off the Dodgers in the bottom of the ninth. Despite coming through Sunday with his second home run of the postseason, the lefty-hitting Pederson will likely head to the bench Tuesday in Game 6 with southpaw Blake Snell on the bump for Tampa Bay.

Pederson will be on the bench for Game 4 of the World Series against the Rays on Saturday.

The Rays will be starting left-hander Ryan Yarbrough, so Pederson will head to the bench as usual. Chris Taylor will move out to left field, with Enrique Hernandez starting at second base and A.J. Pollock serving as the designated hitter.

Pederson is out of the lineup Wednesday for Game 2 of the Dodgers' World Series matchup with the Rays, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports.

As per usual, the lefty-hitting Pederson will take a seat with a southpaw (Blake Snell) on the mound for the opposition. Enrique Hernandez enters the lineup in his stead, batting eighth and manning second base, while Chris Taylor shifts to Pederson's usual post in left field. Pederson struck out in both of his at-bats Tuesday in the Dodgers' 8-3 win in Game 1.

Pederson will sit for Game 6 of the NLCS against Atlanta on Saturday, J.P. Hoornstra of the Los Angeles Daily News reports.

As usual, Pederson will sit with southpaw (Max Fried) on the mound for the opposition. A.J. Pollock will be the left fielder, with Will Smith remaining in the lineup as a designated hitter even with Austin Barnes starting behind the plate.

Pederson went 4-for-6 with a three-run homer in Wednesday's NLCS Game 3 win against Atlanta.

Pederson's three-run shot off Kyle Wright in the first inning accounted for a small fraction of the 11 runs the Dodgers would score in that frame. He's now hitting .467/.500/.667 in six games this postseason.

Pederson will sit for Game 1 of the NLCS against Atlanta on Monday, J.P. Hoornstra of the Los Angeles Daily News reports.

With a lefty (Max Fried) on the mound for Atlanta, Pederson hits the bench as usual. Chris Taylor moves out to left field in his absence, with Enrique Hernandez entering the lineup at second base.

Pederson is out of the lineup for Game 2 of the NLDS against the Padres on Wednesday, J.P. Hoornstra of the Los Angeles Daily News reports.

The 28-year-old has only two plate appearances through the Dodgers' first three playoff games, going 0-for-2 with a strikeout and a GIDP. Pederson had a .682 OPS in 43 games this season and is seeing limited playing time early in the playoffs, even against right-handed starters. A.J. Pollock starts in left field, while Will Smith takes a break behind the plate to serve as the designated hitter in Game 2.

Pederson isn't in the lineup for Game 2 of the NL Wild Card Series against the Brewers on Thursday.

Even with right-hander Brandon Woodruff taking the mound for the Brewers on Thursday, Pederson will retreat to the bench. A.J. Pollock will start in left field with Will Smith serving as the designated hitter.

Pederson is not in the lineup for Game 1 of the NL Wild Card Series against the Brewers on Wednesday, Ken Gurnick of MLB.com reports.

Pederson won't start Game 1 with left-hander Brent Suter taking the mound for Milwaukee. A.J. Pollock receives the start in left field while Edwin Rios serves as the designated hitter Wednesday.

Pederson went 1-for-4 with a three-run home run in Saturday's win over the Angels.

Pederson went deep for the first time since Sept. 4, but he is hitting a meager .147 in 12 games this month and enters the final game of the regular season hitting well below the Mendoza Line at .185 with a career-worst .671 OPS in 42 games.

Pederson will sit Friday against lefty Andrew Heaney and the Angels, J.P. Hoornstra of the Los Angeles Daily News reports.

Pederson has started just a single game against a lefty this season, so it's no surprise to see that trend continue here. AJ Pollock starts in left field Friday, with Will Smith serving as the designated hitter.

Pederson isn't in Wednesday's lineup against the Athletics.

Pederson returned to action Tuesday, but he'll retreat to the bench with lefty Sean Manaea on the mound for Oakland. Chris Taylor will start in left field with Enrique Hernandez taking over at second base.

Pederson may not be able to stick with the Dodgers throughout the postseason due to a family matter, Jorge Castillo of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Pederson recently returned from a stay on the family medical emergency list, but it appears that the private matter may affect his availability moving forward. According to Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, the outfielder's status for a potential playoff run remains uncertain. "I would expect him to be with us through the Wild Card series, but then after that I just don't know," Roberts stated Tuesday.

Pederson was activated off the family medical emergency list Monday, Jorge Castillo of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Pederson had been away from the team for most of the last week. He should return to his platoon role across the final week of the season, though it's possible his opportunities fade slightly, as he's hitting just .174/.268/.376 on the year. Zach McKinstry was optioned in a corresponding move.

Pederson (personal) took some at-bats against Walker Buehler (finger) in a simulated game Saturday, David Vassegh of AM 570 LA Sports reports.

The Dodgers placed Pederson on the family medical emergency list Wednesday, but he's since reported back to the team. Expect the Dodgers to officially activate him ahead of Tuesday's series opener versus the Athletics.