This story was excerpted from Juan Toribio’s Dodgers Beat publication. To learn the complete publication, click on right here. And subscribe to get it often in your inbox.
LOS ANGELES — Over the weekend, the Dodgers continued to improve their offense, coming to an settlement with former All-Star outfielder Teoscar Hernández on a one-year, $23.5 million deal. The contract remains to be pending a bodily and won’t be made official till subsequent week.
But with Hernández totally anticipated to be with the Dodgers this season — paired with offers with Jason Heyward, Shohei Ohtani and the commerce for Manuel Margot — Los Angeles is now seemingly finished including place gamers this offseason, barring an offseason or Spring Training damage.
The 13 place gamers projected to be with the Dodgers on Opening Day match up with nearly another group within the Majors. Though supervisor Dave Roberts can have a while to determine it out earlier than the crew heads to Seoul, South Korea, to open its season in opposition to the Padres on March 20, let’s attempt to mission what the lineup might appear like in opposition to left-handed and right-handed pitching.
1. Mookie Betts, 2B
2. Shohei Ohtani, DH
3. Freddie Freeman, 1B
4. Will Smith, C
5. Max Muncy, 3B
6. Jason Heyward, RF
7. Teoscar Hernández/Chris Taylor, LF
8. James Outman, CF
9. Gavin Lux, SS
How the Dodgers design the highest of their lineup can be attention-grabbing. Betts will certainly be the crew’s leadoff hitter once more, as he has made clear that is his choice. Freeman, who has hit within the No. 2 spot previously few seasons, would seemingly want to slip right down to the three-hole to permit Ohtani to hit second within the order. What an excellent drawback to have, huh?
Behind the three superstars, Smith might keep because the cleanup hitter with a purpose to have a right-handed bat to separate up the left-handed hitters. Muncy and Heyward have been a lot better in opposition to right-handed pitching final season, and in Heyward’s case, he isn’t anticipated to see many at-bats in opposition to lefties this yr. But with Betts more likely to be the crew’s on a regular basis second baseman, Heyward ought to get most of his begins in proper subject in opposition to righties.
Left subject is one other enjoyable puzzle. The Dodgers are hopeful that Hernández can maintain his personal in opposition to right-handed pitching, whereas additionally mashing lefties. Taylor will, as soon as once more, fall into the super-utility function however might get some run in opposition to righties, particularly if he proves to be wholesome early within the season.
On paper, this seems to be the Dodgers’ strongest lineup heading into the season.
1. Mookie Betts, 2B
2. Shohei Ohtani, DH
3. Freddie Freeman, 1B
4. Will Smith, C
5. Teoscar Hernández, RF
6. Max Muncy, 3B
7. Manuel Margot, CF
8. Chris Taylor, LF
9. Miguel Rojas/Gavin Lux, SS
Obviously, the highest 4 keep the identical right here. They’re the group that’s going to drive the engine this season. Against left-handers, nonetheless, count on Muncy to slip right down to sixth. There are two causes for that: His personal struggles in opposition to lefties (he batted .155 in opposition to them final season) and Hernández’s potential to mash southpaws (profession .887 OPS).
Taylor might additionally get some run at third base if Muncy’s struggles in opposition to lefties proceed into the 2024 season, however the Dodgers’ beginning third baseman has earned the flexibility to start out a lot of the crew’s video games.
The final three spots within the order are a bit bit extra attention-grabbing, they usually’ll be one thing to look at throughout Spring Training. Outman greater than held his personal in opposition to left-handed pitching in restricted time throughout his rookie season. But the Dodgers do present a choice to play the handedness matchup most of the time. Unless Outman reveals much more enchancment in opposition to lefties early within the season, Margot — who’s a strong defender — might get nearly all of begins in middle subject. Taylor would then slide over to left subject with the flexibility to additionally play middle if Margot and/or Outman wrestle on the plate.
In the nine-hole, Lux is getting ready to be the crew’s on a regular basis shortstop this season. The Dodgers ought to give him a lot of the alternatives, even in opposition to left-handed pitching, however Rojas’ elite protection at shortstop could be too good for the membership to maintain on the bench for prolonged intervals of time. Expect Rojas to get some begins everywhere in the diamond, however particularly giving Lux — who’s coming off main proper knee surgical procedure — a break at any time when he wants it.
Things can — and can — change from now till Opening Day, however it seems just like the Dodgers have already locked up the 13 place gamers they’ll roll with this season.
Content Source: www.mlb.com