Los Angeles Dodgers: Bold predictions for Cody Bellinger in 2019
By Jason Reed
2. Cody Bellinger hits 35+ home runs and 100+ RBIs
We were going to be more modest with this prediction and initially had it at 30 home runs and 80 RBIs. After writing the opening paragraph I realized: Bellinger has already hit over 35 home runs in his career. While it might be unfair to expect his rookie year all over again, we are going to see something similar in 2019.
Bellinger is going to be the heart and the soul of the order and should be the fourth hitter in the lineup on a near-daily basis. This probably won’t happen, because Dave Roberts fields a different lineup order every game, but it would be nice to see.
Either way, Bellinger is going to be in the middle of the order and is going to get plenty of chances to drive in runs. Bellinger has A.J. Pollock, Corey Seager and Justin Turner hitting in front of him. He did not have that luxury for all of 2018.
Turner was hurt to start the year, Seager was out nearly the entire season and the Dodgers didn’t have a legitimate lead-off man like they do in Pollock. This lineup is built to get runners on early and get into position for Bellinger to finish the job.
Hitting with runners on base and one or fewer outs instead of the bases empty and two outs is going to have a huge impact on Bellinger’s numbers. He had more plate appearances with two outs than with one out or no outs in 2018; this year will be different.