Sore hip of Dodgers’ Dee Gordon is apparently good to go

Last postseason, he was a specialist. The “beep-beep” dude off the bench, the fast guy who would be used as a pinch runner and would maybe to steal a base.

Dee Gordon played in two games, never stole a base, never had any impact.

It’s a different world for Gordon this postseason. Now he enters the playoffs as the majors’ leading base stealer, the Dodgers’ regular second baseman and a player counted on to make an impact at the top of the lineup.

“I’m just excited,” Gordon said. “I was excited last year. I couldn’t sleep before the games last year, so I probably won’t be able to sleep this year.”

A Gordon with greater impact naturally requires a healthy Gordon. Something the Dodgers have been careful to check in on since he left Saturday’s game with a sore hip.

“I’m playing, for sure,” Gordon said.

Gordon participated in the Dodgers’ workout Tuesday at Dodger Stadium in anticipation of opening the division series here against the Cardinals on Friday. Gordon said he did everything he would normally do and without limitations.

“People are making more out of it,” he said. “It’s just really close to the playoffs, and I need to be at the top of the lineup for us. It is what it is, but you’ll see. I’ll be out there Friday night.”

In his first full season in the majors, Gordon hit .289 with 64 stolen bases and tied with Yasiel Puig for the team-high in runs with 92.

Stealing against the St. Louis and catcher Yadier Molina could prove a different story. Molina has thrown out 21 of 44 would-be base-stealers this season, easily tops among full-time catchers.

Gordon said he cannot allow Molina’s arm or how well the St. Louis staff holds runners at first, impact the way he runs on the bases.

“Nah, I have to play my game the way I play my game,” Gordon said. “I’m going to keep going the way I play.”