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 usually 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 continues to be pending a bodily and won’t be made official till subsequent week.
However 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 possible carried out including place gamers this offseason, barring an offseason or Spring Coaching harm.
The 13 place gamers projected to be with the Dodgers on Opening Day match up with nearly another group within the Majors. Although supervisor Dave Roberts can have a while to determine it out earlier than the workforce heads to Seoul, South Korea, to open its season in opposition to the Padres on March 20, let’s attempt to undertaking what the lineup may appear like in opposition to left-handed and right-handed pitching.
1. Mookie Betts, 2B2. Shohei Ohtani, DH3. Freddie Freeman, 1B4. Will Smith, C5. Max Muncy, 3B6. Jason Heyward, RF7. Teoscar Hernández/Chris Taylor, LF8. James Outman, CF9. Gavin Lux, SS
How the Dodgers design the highest of their lineup might be attention-grabbing. Betts will certainly be the workforce’s leadoff hitter once more, as he has made clear that is his desire. Freeman, who has hit within the No. 2 spot prior to now few seasons, would possible want to slip right down to the three-hole to permit Ohtani to hit second within the order. What a superb downside to have, huh?
Behind the three superstars, Smith may keep because the cleanup hitter with the intention to have a right-handed bat to separate up the left-handed hitters. Muncy and Heyward had been significantly 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. However with Betts more likely to be the workforce’s on a regular basis second baseman, Heyward ought to get most of his begins in proper discipline in opposition to righties.
Left discipline 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 position however may 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, 2B2. Shohei Ohtani, DH3. Freddie Freeman, 1B4. Will Smith, C5. Teoscar Hernández, RF6. Max Muncy, 3B7. Manuel Margot, CF8. Chris Taylor, LF9. Miguel Rojas/Gavin Lux, SS
Clearly, the highest 4 keep the identical right here. They’re the group that’s going to drive the engine this season. Towards left-handers, nevertheless, 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 capacity to mash southpaws (profession .887 OPS).
Taylor may 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 power to start out a lot of the workforce’s video games.
The final three spots within the order are somewhat bit extra attention-grabbing, and so they’ll be one thing to look at throughout Spring Coaching. Outman greater than held his personal in opposition to left-handed pitching in restricted time throughout his rookie season. However the Dodgers do present a desire to play the handedness matchup most of the time. Until Outman exhibits much more enchancment in opposition to lefties early within the season, Margot — who’s a stable defender — may get nearly all of begins in middle discipline. Taylor would then slide over to left discipline with the power to additionally play middle if Margot and/or Outman wrestle on the plate.
Within the nine-hole, Lux is getting ready to be the workforce’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 is perhaps too good for the membership to maintain on the bench for prolonged durations of time. Anticipate Rojas to get some begins all around the diamond, however particularly giving Lux — who’s coming off main proper knee surgical procedure — a break at any time when he wants it.
Issues can — and can — change from now till Opening Day, nevertheless it seems just like the Dodgers have already locked up the 13 place gamers they’ll roll with this season.
