Dalbec's whole trajectory has been bizarre. From tearing the cover off the ball in his 2020 call up, to not looking like a major league hitter for four months in 2021 and the team trading for not one, but two players to try to replace his at bats (and testing Cordero at first base, too), to him suddenly becoming - literally - the best hitter on the team and one of the best in the majors for two months, to him being benched against hard throwing RHP, to him being benched against all RHP, to him being benched, period.
They kept letting him hit when he was terrible, and benched him when he was hot. Cora, I think, has shown his hand here: Dalbec won't be starting any games in the post season if no one is injured.
Frankly, I'm surprised that Cora is not him starting against LHP. The platoon would be with Verdugo essentially, with Schwarber sliding between LF and first base. Verdugo has had a real nice post season so far, but then again he has extreme splits - does not hit lefties well, which is what Dalbec does particularly well.
This reminds me of Farrell abandoning a platoon and benching Nava in the 2013 post season, starting Gomes in all games because of his "intangibles." But if these intangibles are so essential to winning, why the didn't Gomes start every game during the regular season?
Well, things worked out in 2013, so let's hope 2021 follows suit (the closest comp, maybe to this team) ...
EDIT: Just looked, this up, to my surprise Dalbec led the team in Barrels/PA, at 13%. Devers at 11.1, and Schwarb at 11. No one else over 10% ...I wonder if he's privately feeling a bit snubbed this post season (he seems like an upstanding guy, but it must feel a little unfair to him to not have any playing time).