The Los Angeles Dodgers made some minor tweaks to their lineup ahead of the second game of their series against the Cleveland Guardians.
Designated hitter Shohei Ohtani will remain in the leadoff spot followed by right fielder Kyle Tucker, just as he has been all season. Shortstop Mookie Betts remains in the third spot, and first baseman Freddie Freeman reclaimed the cleanup spot after batting fifth Monday.
Catcher Will Smith returns to the lineup after a day off and takes the No. 5 spot, and third baseman Max Muncy gets a second consecutive start. Left fielder Teoscar Hernandez will bat seventh and center fielder Andy Pages will bat eighth with second baseman Alex Freeland in the No. 9 spot.
Ohtani will also be taking the mound for the first time this season, and will look to get off to a good start to the year as a pitcher following a great spring showing on the rubber.
The right-hander pitched 8.1 innings, striking out 15 batters and allowing just three runs in the preseason.
Dodgers Lineup vs. Guardians on Tuesday
1. Shohei Ohtani, DH
2. Kyle Tucker, RF
3. Mookie Betts, SS
4. Freddie Freeman, 1B
5. Will Smith, C
6. Max Muncy, 3B
7. Teoscar Hernandez, LF
8. Andy Pages, CF
9. Alex Freeland, 2B
P. Shohei Ohtani, RHP
The Dodgers lost their series opener against the Guardians on Monday, 4-2, and will look to strike back to level the series Tuesday. LA will face Tanner Bibee on the mound, setting up a good matchup for their plethora of left-handed batters, who have struggled to start the season.
Ohtani, Tucker and Freeman are a combined 8-for-43 to start the season, but manager Dave Roberts hasn’t lost any faith in his team.
“I am surprised that they got off to a slow start, but you just never really know,” Roberts said. “Spring training is just not predictive. It’s just not. I think for me, the takeaway is we’re 3-1 and the guys that we expect to swing the bats aren’t swinging the bats right now. So that’s a good thing. They’ll hit.”
Current Dodgers batters have 11 hits in 38 trips against the right-hander, who allowed three earned runs in five innings in his season debut against the Seattle Mariners. The Dodgers have a rested bullpen after Justin Wrobleski’s four-inning relief outing Monday, and will look to use their arms to their advantage in the second game of the set.
Do you think the Dodgers can bounce back Tuesday?
