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Los Angeles Dodgers: How to structure the lineup with Mookie Betts

By Jason Reed

LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 28: Mookie Betts #50 of the Boston Red Sox celebrates his sixth inning home run against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game Five of the 2018 World Series at Dodger Stadium on October 28, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 28: Mookie Betts #50 of the Boston Red Sox celebrates his sixth inning home run against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game Five of the 2018 World Series at Dodger Stadium on October 28, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Dodgers
(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Dodgers /

Against right-handed pitching:

  1. Max Muncy, 1B
  2. Mookie Betts, RF
  3. Justin Turner, 3B
  4. Cody Bellinger, CF
  5. Corey Seager, SS
  6. Will Smith, C
  7. Gavin Lux, 2B
  8. Chris Taylor, LF
  9. Pitcher

There are probably a few things that surprised you about this order that we need to address. First, fittingly, is the lead-off hitter. The Dodgers are without a lead-off hitter without Pederson and because of his ability to get on base and his speed, many assume that Betts will simply fill that void.

However, I think the Dodgers would be better off going the Angels route with Mike Trout and hit Betts second behind Max Muncy, who actually provides a really similar outlook at the lead-off spot as Joc Pederson.

Muncy has the power that Pederson has, if not more, and is much better at getting on base. Muncy had a .374 on-base percentage last season with a .381 on-base percentage in the last two seasons. Muncy has the 12th-best on-base percentage in that time, and while Betts is first, Muncy’s tendency to work counts and see many pitches work well as a lead-off hitter.

The trio of Betts-Turner-Bellinger is pretty self-explanatory but you may be surprised to see Corey Seager hitting fifth. Look, Seager had a “bad” year last year coming off of Tommy John Surgery and still led the leagues in doubles. Hitting behind Bellinger, I guarantee Seager will hit 25 home runs and .300.

Smith and Lux help flop the handiness with the new three-batter rule and I would actually rather see Chris Taylor out there against right-handed pitching. Taylor has reverse splits, is much better against right-handed pitching than A.J. Pollock and allows Pollock to stay rested, which is a big deal.

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