Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts made his boldest lineup decision in a while, shaking up the order to inject some life into the offense.
Dave Robert’s usual approach
Roberts is known for trusting his players, giving them a long leash, and giving veterans with a proven track record the space to work their way out of struggles.
He will make a change here or there, responding to slumps and adjusting the order as needed, but Roberts will always be slow on the trigger until he really has to.
It can frustrate the fanbase, who tend to want changes based on recent performances, but it is hard to argue much given the Dodgers’ success.
For Game 3 of the NLDS, Roberts took a different approach and made numerous lineup changes.
What changes Roberts made for Game 3
The Dodgers moved Shohei Ohtani from the No. 2 spot, where he started for the first two games, to the No. 5 position.
Ohtani hasn’t hit this low since 2020, and with the Dodgers, he’s never started a game this low. The lefty has mainly occupied the leadoff and No. 2 spot in the batting order since breaking out into the bona fide best player in the league.
Ohtani is 2-for-8 in the NLDS so far, a step up from his production before landing on the injured list, but his approach has a lot of whiffs and chases.
Roberts hopes Ohtani can get a good read on Sale from the dugout before going up to bat and deliver higher-quality at-bats.
Additionally, Rojas is slotting in for Tommy Edman. Edman is 0-for-5 with a walk through the NLDS and hit just .160 over his last 15 regular-season games.
Roberts has long been a fan of Edman’s defense and what he brings to the game, but against a lefty in Sale, he is relying on veteran Miguel Rojas to do what he does best: hit lefties.
Edman has been a constant for the Dodgers in the postseason since his 2024 NLCS MVP, but his past feats no longer seem enough to keep his starting spot.
Finally, the Dodgers are swapping Kike Hernandez in for Max Muncy, the lefty slugger who has already hit two home runs in the series.
Muncy started Game 2 on the bench for Rojas, and he still delivered a solo home run in the ninth inning.
Hernandez has not hit well this season; he has not gotten a regular dose of plate appearances due to injuries, but few players have risen in the postseason like Hernandez.
Roberts is counting on the righty delivering against Sale, at the very least, pesky at-bats, if not a signature Hernandez home run with the Dodgers’ backs against the wall.
Will these moves work?
All of these moves may produce similar offensive output: they fail with runners in scoring position and still rely on home runs, but Roberts has pulled levers he doesn’t often pull.
It would be easy, given the resumes, to trot out the same order, yet Roberts is making some real decisions and trying his best to help the offense overcome Sale and the Braves.
No matter how it ends, it will be hard to question the process.
