In an unexpected but calculated shift, Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts made a bold lineup change ahead of Sunday’s series finale against the Milwaukee Brewers: Mookie Betts is back in the leadoff spot, replacing Shohei Ohtani, who has occupied the role for much of the season.
It wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment decision.
“I felt giving him a different look in the lineup and putting him at the top will put him in the mindset of getting on base,” Roberts told SportsNet LA. “I think just trying to get good at-bats will set the table for Shohei and the guys behind him.”
Betts Back Where It All Began
Betts, who has long been associated with the leadoff role—especially during his MVP season in Boston—has struggled at the plate in recent weeks. Over his last 30 games, he’s hitting just .178 with a .506 OPS. It’s his worst stretch in recent memory, prompting Roberts to give him a game off Saturday in an attempt to reset.
The decision to move Betts back to the top of the order is rooted not only in numbers but in rhythm and feel.
“I looked at the totality of his emotions and mechanics,” Roberts said. “It’s about getting him back to doing what he does best.”
Even if the move raised eyebrows—especially given that Ohtani owns a .983 OPS this season and has helped the Dodgers’ leadoff spot post the highest OPS in baseball—it was met with no resistance from the two-way superstar.
“Shohei will do anything we ask. He is all about the team,” Roberts emphasized.
Temporary Change or Something More?
With third baseman Max Muncy still recovering from injury, Roberts says the change will remain in place—at least for now.
“I’ll do it until Max gets back, then re-evaluate from there,” he explained. “Hopefully it lends itself to the mindset of ‘just get on base’ and build innings.”
It’s unclear whether Betts will stay in the role long-term, but the Dodgers are hoping the move helps their offense find consistency during a turbulent stretch. Entering Sunday’s contest, Los Angeles had lost five straight to the Brewers and dropped nine of their last eleven overall.
Even though Betts struck out to begin the game Sunday, he later singled in the third inning to spark a three-run frame. The Dodgers, desperate to avoid a sweep at home, used that inning to build a lead they hoped to protect.
A Necessary Gamble
For a team that entered the season with sky-high expectations and a roster built for October, recent injuries and underperformance have led to some soul-searching.
Roberts’ move is not without precedent. In 2018, Betts helped the Red Sox produce a historic 1.028 OPS from the leadoff spot—still the best in MLB history. The Dodgers are clearly banking on history repeating itself, or at the very least, on Betts regaining the edge that has made him one of baseball’s most impactful players.
“If I felt a change, a different look in the lineup would help performance, I would do it,” Roberts told ESPN. “I would be all in.”
He is, and now the Dodgers are following his lead—hoping this spark at the top of the lineup ignites something bigger down the stretch.