The Los Angeles Dodgers’ lineup looks a little different on Saturday for their second game against the Chicago Cubs, and it’s not because of the slump the offense has been in recently.
Will Smith is out of the lineup for the second time in the last three games. With Dalton Rushing taking over at catcher, Max Muncy is batting third for the first time, rather than Smith, who has been their primary hitter in that spot this season.
“Will’s back is a little tight,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “So figured I’d give an extra day, see how he comes in tomorrow.
“And then Max is a little under the weather, so I wanted to get him up there and get an extra at-bat versus Rea. And I just felt like leaving Tuck in the four, I like that. And it got Dalton in there, so that’s kind of the thought.”
Smith first started dealing with back tightness within the last few days, but at this moment, there’s nothing of concern for the Dodgers. He is expected to be back in the lineup for the series finale on Sunday.
“No,” Roberts answered when asked whether there was any concern about Smith. “No, it’s just more of I had him playing two of three, so there’s really no cost in giving him today and playing him tomorrow.”
As for Muncy moving up, that allows him to potentially get an extra at-bat against the Cubs’ right-hander starter if he needs to be removed later due to his illness, if they decide to give him some extra rest at some point in the game, or if they want to pinch-hit against a lefty reliever.
The rest of the lineup is as expected. Shohei Ohtani remains in the leadoff spot despite his recent slump, while Freddie Freeman bats behind him in the two-hole. With the righty on the mound, Alex Freeland and Hyeseong Kim get the starts in the middle infield, while Andy Pages hits in the seven spot.
Dodgers lineup against Cubs
DH: Shohei Ohtani
1B: Freddie Freeman
3B: Max Muncy
RF: Kyle Tucker
LF: Teoscar Hernández
C: Dalton Rushing
CF: Andy Pages
SS: Hyeseong Kim
2B: Alex Freeland
SP: Roki Sasaki
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