After a week-plus of filling out a Los Angeles Dodgers lineup for two teams during intrasquad games, manager Dave Roberts had to pare his decisions down to just nine players for the start of exhibition play against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Like has long been expected, Mookie Betts was penciled in the leadoff spot. He was followed by Max Muncy, Justin Turner, Cody Bellinger and Corey Seager. In reality, spots Nos. 2 through 5 could be shuffled any which way and still pose a threat.
Betts, Muncy, Turner and Bellinger combined to go 8-for-11 with six RBI and two walks. Bellinger provided the big blast with a grand slam in the first inning.
As for the Dodgers’ first chance to utilize the universal designated hitter in an actual game setting, AJ Pollock was Roberts’ first choice. “Now it’s just putting together some things and seeing how it looks,” he said before a 9-2 win over the Diamondbacks.
“I have a good idea. Nothing is certainly set. We’ll know more here in a few days, but I’ve already got a good idea of what we want to do.”
The Dodgers have two more dress rehearsals, which will offer Roberts further opportunities to explore different combinations. “I’m probably over the next couple days going to mix up a couple things,” he said.
“I think the core of it, kind of the meats and bones of what you’ll see the next few nights, will be similar to Opening Day.”
However it ultimately shakes out, the Dodgers will boast one of the best lineups in baseball. One guarantee Roberts has already alluded to is he will rotate position players at the DH spot in order to combat fatigue potentially setting in.
Doc pleased with Summer Camp
The Dodgers have two exhibition games and a voluntary workout before officially putting a bow on Summer Camp at Dodger Stadium. “When you’re playing against guys in the same uniform over and over, it gets to be a little monotonous, but our guys didn’t let down our guards,” Roberts said of the past two-plus weeks.
“Very pleased with everything.”
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