Los Angeles Dodgers: The positions that should be platooned in 2019

Left field

We did say that Enrique Hernandez is better as a traditional utility player that can play all around the field but he should be in left field when the Los Angeles Dodgers are facing southpaws. Hernandez can still bounce around the field as a double switch option or late in games when he starts, but should primarily start at second.

You could make the case for flipping Hernandez and Taylor and it doesn’t really matter. Both guys won’t be glued to these positions, they will simply start there against southpaws.

Like Taylor, Hernandez has a slugging platoon mate in Joc Pederson. Pederson showed a lot of progressions in 2018 and seems to be carrying that into 2019 with his massive moonshot against the Chicago White Sox.

However, he is still a sub .250 hitter and is atrocious against southpaws. Keeping Pederson away from southpaws as much as possible is the best thing the Dodgers can do for the slugging outfielder.

If Bellinger were to play in the outfield (which he unfortunately probably will), it would force Pederson and Hernandez to the bench. Alex Verdugo deserves the starting nod until he loses it.

The rookie is great defensively, has a great arm and is good against both arms. Verdugo should be one of the Dodgers’ everyday guys if he is living up to his potential, which opens the door for this platoon in left field.

I would rather start Bellinger at first, Verdugo every day in right field and have a platoon of Hernandez and Pederson in left. That is better than Muncy platooning at first, Verdugo splitting time with another lefty in left field and Taylor and Hernandez sharing second as two right-handed bats.