The biggest issue facing Major League Baseball has a solution.
The Los Angeles Dodgers boasted the best leadoff hitter in Mookie Betts. From Opening Day to June 16, Betts participated in 72 of the Dodgers’ 73 games, batting .304 with 10 home runs and 40 RBIs. He also successfully stole 9 out of 10 bases and scored 50 runs.
However, a 98-mph fastball broke Betts’ left hand and landed him on the injured list, where he was among the top 10 players in the National League for runs, batting average, on-base percentage, and slugging. So, what’s a manager to do?
If you’re Dave Roberts, you fill Betts’ spot with the clear National League MVP: Shohei Ohtani.
Since Betts’ injury, Ohtani has elevated his performance even further. After posting a .306/.377/.571 line in his first 69 games as the Dodgers’ number two hitter, he’s now hitting .307/.423/.699 in 40 games leading off.
Roberts faces a decision since Betts is expected to come back from the injured list next week. Betts has been the Dodgers’ usual leadoff hitter in all but 23 of his 507 regular-season starts since joining Los Angeles before the 2020 season. Meanwhile, Ohtani appears to be more at ease at the plate than ever before while batting at the top of the order.
On Tuesday at Dodger Stadium, Roberts informed reporters that Betts will return to the shortstop position he’s maintained since March. However, Ohtani will stay as the leadoff hitter, with Betts batting second.
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Ever since the Dodgers signed Ohtani to a 10-year, $ 700 million contract last December, the question of how to arrange the top of the lineup has sparked intense discussions among Dodger fans.
Roberts recognized there were both advantages and disadvantages to moving Freddie Freeman from the number two spot in the batting order, where he excelled last year batting behind Betts. Ultimately, he decided on Betts first, Ohtani second, and Freeman third, sticking to this plan until Betts’ injury.
At that point, the Dodgers were 44-29, leading the National League West by eight games, with less than a third of the season elapsed.
Since Betts’ injury, Los Angeles has struggled slightly, going just four games above .500 (22-18) as they headed into Tuesday’s matchup against the Philadelphia Phillies. Meanwhile, the Arizona Diamondbacks (26-15) and San Diego Padres (24-14) posted the best records in the National League during this period, closing the gap in the West.
As the Dodgers anticipate Betts’ return, Ohtani can rest easy knowing his position in the batting order will remain unchanged, and the same goes for Betts’ defensive position. This shift in the lineup presents a welcome solution to a dilemma that any major league manager would be thrilled to face.
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