The Los Angeles Dodgers have an embarrassment of riches at the plate, leaving manager Dave Roberts with a tough choice ahead of the 2026 season: Who bats where in the order?
On Wednesday, Roberts made clear where his head is at regarding Mookie Betts, saying he expects Betts to bat third, as reported by Katie Woo of The Athletic.
Betts has previously batted in the No. 2 spot, but with the addition of star outfielder Kyle Tucker and a dip in offensive production in 2025, he’s being moved back a spot.
Shohei Ohtani is expected to keep his leadoff spot, Roberts added.
Expectations for Mookie Betts in 2026
Betts had a down year at the plate in 2025, but he spent this past offseason retooling his swing.
“More just rewiring my mechanics, my brain, the motor patterns,” Betts explained, as reported by Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic. “I think it kind of got out of whack early on, and once I got out of whack early, it was just like a snowball effect.”
With a bounce-back year at the plate and continued strong performance at shortstop, Betts could be a contender for the top player in the National League, an expectation Roberts has embraced.
“Mookie [Betts] will be in the MVP conversation this year,” Roberts predicted, as reported by Jack Vita of the Los Angeles Times.
A Return to Form for Betts?
Betts struggled in 2025, but that’s largely in relation to his own success.
He slashed .258/.326/.406. Compare that to 2024, when he slashed .289/.372/.491.
Before his time with the Dodgers, though, he led Major League Baseball in batting average and slugging.
In 2018, he slashed .346/.438/.640 en route to an American League MVP award.
Will history repeat itself in 2026? Only time will tell, but all indications thus far are positive for the Boys in Blue.
Do you think Mookie Betts will be MVP caliber again in 2026?
15 Responses
I think mookie Betts should batts first than kyle and Ohtani.
That’s how it plays out in my head, too. But Doc is the boss.
i think this guy knows baseball! How do you have a 50 ht hitter leading off is absurd! Casey Stengel didnt have mantle leading off!
Because Ohtani has been consistent at #1 he’ll remain. Mookie is a better hitter with runners on so 3rd is good. #2 bat must be able to move Ohtani on bases, someone who doesn’t hit into too many double plays. Dodgers KEY is staying as Healthy as possible. Older Players need more Down Time, it’s a Long Season.
Ohtsni leading off is absurd! Aaron didnt lead off neither did Mays, or any slugger!
They werent ohtani. And how you going to argue with 2 years 2 chips. If it aint broken you know the rest
Roberts has his head up his ass!!
So, I see eso many of you still know more than Dave Roberts. 5 WS appearances in 10 years. Cheated out of one trophy but won three. An HOF manager for sure. So, let me be the first to say that any losing streak of more than two games this season will beget the first FIRE THE MANAGER call.
Hey that wasn’t nice to say about Doc, especially two WS in 2 yrs. You can’t be a Dodger fan making a statement like that. I’ve been a Dodger fan since I could hold a baseball.
I don’t/didn’t mean any disrespect to you but give Doc a little respect, because he deserves it.
With the talent the dodgers have Anyone could manage ! A manager is more than a cheerleader!
Really, have you actually “done it”? Then you don’t know. How many “great teams” have crumbled, never won, been forgotten? Many, and you will never hear about them because of it
The rationale for having Ohtani batting 1st is to increase his amount of chances at the plate. To me, that isn’t sufficient a reason. He’s capable of 45+ HR’s/year so why not have him 4th. I like Mookie 1st, Tucker 2nd Freddy 3rd and Ohtani clean up.
No
I agree Ohtani should be hitting farther down the lineup but it’s because he would potentially drive in more runs there.
Betts should be leading off. But, Shohei is calling the shots.