Dodgers News: Dave Roberts Explains Why Chris Taylor is Batting Cleanup on Monday

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts made an interesting decision on Monday with the lineup card. The Dodgers are facing Mets LHP David Peterson, who has struggled against righties this season. So, Roberts filled the lineup with righties, including putting one in the cleanup spot in Chris Taylor.

Yes, Taylor, who is 5-for-37 this season hitting .135 in 12 games, is batting fourth for the Dodgers.

Not exactly the cleanup hitter you want, but at least Taylor has hit some home runs this season. Of Taylor’s five hits, four of them are long balls. So, at least there’s that.

Roberts was (obviously) asked about his decision to put Taylor at the four-hole on Monday, and told the media that he likes the matchup against Peterson. He could get three opportunities to face the left-handed pitcher, which Roberts thinks would be a positive.

To be fair, going through the other options in the lineup, there isn’t exactly a better player at the four-hole. Trayce Thompson has struggled to hit lefties since last season, Miguel Rojas is struggling to hit the ball this season and Miguel Vargas isn’t exactly a cleanup hitter. After that, it would be newest Dodger Austin Wynns — and he’s in the nine-hole where he belongs.

So, Taylor is getting the opportunity, and the Dodgers really need him to come through. This is one of the least formidable Dodger lineups we’ve seen in a while, and if the top-of-the-lineup hitters aren’t contributing, the Dodgers could be in for a long night.

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