Los Angeles Dodgers utility player Kiké Hernández is giving another veteran of the team his flowers as they both stand poised to make baseball history in this upcoming National League Championship Series.
Hernández, a fan favorite, spoke with Dodgers Nation’s Noise by Noel about third baseman Max Muncy and the bond they’ve developed over multiple championships and deep playoff runs in October.
What does Kiké Hernández think of Max Muncy?
Hernández pointed out that the Dodgers have turned over almost the entire roster since that devastating loss in the 2017 World Series to the cheating Houston Astros.
If you look at the next season — which ended in another gutting World Series loss, this time to the Boston Red Sox — it’s only Hernández and Muncy who were around to witness those heartbreaks and see the three championships that followed.
That shared experience has brought the two vets closer together, Hernández told Noel.
“When you spend [time] in locker rooms year in and year out with these guys, they become part of your family,” Hernández said. “Especially when you get to play so many big games together. Muncy, he’s one of the few ones that’s left. I’m the only one left from the ’17 World Series, and just me and Muncy from ’18, so I’m really proud of the way his career has gone, how he’s persevered and made a name for himself.”
And it’s more than just that both players were there to experience the highs and lows of the World Series.
Muncy has become a key contributor for the Dodgers, and much like Hernández, he shines in the postseason.
Interestingly, both had exactly 16 playoff home runs before this year’s NLDS, and while Hernández went deep once, Muncy hit three homers in four games, putting him now one HR away from becoming the seventh player ever with 20 postseason home runs.
“He’s one of the better hitters in the league, one of the most consistent power hitters in the last 10 years or so,” Hernández said. “When there’s a big game, Max is one of those guys you know you can count on.”
Of course, so is Hernández, who still has a chance to beat Muncy to the 20 playoff HR mark if he can go deep three times before Muncy hits another one.
On Sunday, though, Hernández shared more about the upcoming pitchers’ duel than hitting homers.
Kiké Hernández previews Game 1 pitching matchup
With the Dodgers starting ace Tarik Skubal and the Milwaukee Brewers starting presumptive NL Cy Young winner Jacob Misiorowski, Sunday’s Game 1 is expected to be a master class in dominant pitching.
So who does Hernández think will get the win?
“It’s gonna be a great one, two really good pitchers going at it and a lot of power against power,” Hernández said. “It’s basically going to be whoever can take the best bats overall as a team. It’s kind of similar to Sale vs. Yamamoto in Atlanta.”
At 5 p.m. PT, we’ll find out if Hernández is right.
