Dodgers should start A.J. Ellis at catcher in series opener

So Corey Seager-Jimmy Rollins at shortstop and Enrique Hernandez-Joc Pederson in center aren’t the only starting position questions facing the Dodgers this postseason.

Who’s going to be their starting catcher?

For most of the season, Yasmani Grandal has been the primary starting catcher. A.J. Ellis was regulated to backup, mostly starting against left-handers.

Grandal was having a career year and was an All-Star at the break, but since taking a nasty foul ball off his left shoulder in early August, he has become a completely different hitter. He has just four hits in his last 82 at-bats (.049) and has become a liability at the plate.

Meanwhile, after a miserable start, Ellis is on a roll. In his last 27 games he’s hit .278 with five homers and 14 RBIs.

The Mets may use only right-handed starters. If Mattingly sticks with his season-long plan of starting Grandal against right-handers, that leaves Ellis where? Does he really start Grandal in the midst of his horrendous slump Friday when Clayton Kershaw takes the mound?

“I think Kershaw has a little more confidence in Ellis,” Grandal said in Spanish. “If it was me, I’d play Ellis.”

Manager Don Mattingly would only say Wednesday that both would play in the series.

“Obviously, A.J. has been swinging the bat good down the stretch,” Mattingly said. “We feel comfortable with either guy. Obviously, Yas is really good defensively and framing and blocking. I think you’ll see a mixture of guys.”

Grandal complained weeks after his injury that the pain was radiating from his shoulder, up his neck, down his back and through both sides of his ribs. Mattingly said he was not receiving any daily reports on the injury, so it is not considered major at this time.

“I would say he’s pretty good, but also assuming he’s dealing with something,” he said.

The numbers indicate Grandal is clearly still battling some repercussions from the bruise to his nonthrowing shoulder. And logic indicates Ellis should start Friday in the opener.

Mattingly is always talking about playing his best lineup on any given night. And right now, that means Ellis.

“We just put everything into the pot and try to make a good decision on that guy, that night,” Mattingly said.