Dodgers Shake โฃUp lineup, Aim to Regain Momentum in World Series Against โBlue Jays
ARLINGTON, โฃTX – October 25,โข 2024 -โฃ Facing a 2-2 World Series deadlock, the Los angeles Dodgers announced a critically important lineup overhaul for โขWednesday’s Game 5โฃ against the Toronto Blue Jays, signaling a desperate attempt โคto jumpstart a struggling โoffense. The changes come โขafter โคa 6-2 loss in Game 4 on โขtuesday, prompting manager Dave Roberts toโค state he would “think longโ and hard” about the batting order.
The most notable shift sees shortstop Mookie betts moved from the No. โ2 to the No. โ3โข spot. Catcher Willโ Smith will now bat โleadoff, directly behind Shohei Ohtani. Roberts explained theโ move, stating, โค”Iโ just feel thatโ that’s the best way to win the game tonight.”
Further down theโข order, outfielder Andy Pages has been benched after hitting just .080 this postseason, replaced by Alex Call in left field. Kikรฉ Hernรกndez will โshift from left field to centerโข field. Roberts highlighted the potential for Call to “get somebody on base for Shohei atโฃ the top,” improving at-batโ quality andโ pitch recognition.
The Dodgers’ โoffensive woes have been a โkey factor in โคthe series’โ even split. After anโ explosive 18-runโ performance in the wild-card round, โคthe team has struggledโ to consistently produce. They’ve batted .199 in the NL Division Series,.250 in the NL Championship Series, and have managed onylโค three runs in the last 20 innings. The team โคis currently โhitting .214 as a series.
“There’s a few of us thatโ need to โbe prosperous,” โDodgers firstโ baseman Freddie Freeman acknowledged. “It can’t always just be Shohei. We understand that.” Freeman emphasized theโ need for a more patient approach at the plate,stating,”Iโฃ do think weโค just need โto check โคdown and have,like,almost a 0-1 mindset and โjustโ build innings,extend ’em,work counts,be โwho we are.”
Betts, inโ particular, has been cold, hitting just .147 over his last eight games and going one for six in โฃthe series following intentional walksโ to Ohtani. Roberts acknowledged some “mechanical things” with betts’ swing but stressed the immediate focus: “But right now,โ all thatโค matters is justโค going out there andโฃ takingโ four orโ five good at-bats. So all I’m concerned about is tonight, and I know โthat’s what’s onโฃ Mookie’s mind โคtoo.”
Ohtani has had runners on base in just six of his 22 plate appearances this series, highlighting the need โคfor hitters in front of him to reach base.
First pitch for Game 5 is scheduled forโ [Time] at [Location]. Fans can watch the game on [Broadcaster] and follow liveโ scoring updatesโค at [Score Source]. The Dodgers โคhopeโ these lineup changes will provide the spark needed to regain control of the series.
