Dodgers NLCS: Tommy Edman thrives at the plate in Game 5, beating the Mets

Tommy Edman has been a standout player for the Dodgers in the postseason since being acquired at the trade deadline. In Game 4 of the NLCS against the Mets at Citi Field, he delivered another great performance with two doubles batted in and three runs batted in to secure a 10-2 victory.

Edman didn't play his first game for the Dodgers until August 19 after recovering from wrist surgery and an ankle sprain, but he quickly emerged and became one of the key players in the team's path to the National League West title Valuable player contributor down the stretch with 22 starts in center field and 13 at shortstop.

He batted .237 with six home runs, 20 RBIs and an OPS of .711 (101 OPS+) in 37 regular season games.

Edman didn't expect to make much of an offensive impact in the postseason, but the versatile switch-hitter has exceeded expectations after taking over for the injured Miguel Rojas at shortstop.

So far, Edman is 7-for-17 (.412) with seven RBIs in the series, putting his name in the conversation for NLCS MVP.

Edman spoke with Ken Rosenthal about his success so far with the Dodgers and in the playoffs.

“I've made a lot of progress in the last few weeks,” he told Rosenthal, and Edman is finally in midseason form after recovering from an injury.

Edman was a key offensive contributor in NLCS Game 2 with three of LA's five hits, including a two-run single in the sixth inning that put the Dodgers back in the game.

Dave Roberts went with the hot bat in Game 4, placing the switch-hitter in cleanup position against left-hander Jose Quintana, moving him up from his usual eighth or ninth spot in the lineup against right-handers.

Edman didn't let Roberts down, collecting two more clutch RBI hits to push the Dodgers to the precipice of a World Series berth.

He doubled in the third on a line drive to left fielder Brandon Nimmo to bring in Shohei Ohtani and move Mookie Betts to third base. Edman's second RBI double of the game came again in the eighth with a sharp line drive to Nimmo. Betts and Kevin Kiermaier scored.

The Dodgers front office coveted Edman for a while, and he was ultimately acquired by Andrew Friedman and the front office team at the July trade deadline. He came to LA with a year and a half left on his contract as part of a three-team trade with the Cardinals and White Sox. Michael Kopech also came to the Dodgers in the trade and also proved to be extremely valuable to the Dodgers in their quest for a championship.

If Edman stays hot and continues to impact the Dodgers offensively and defensively this postseason, he can capture his first career World Series victory.