Despite losing the likes of Kiké Hernandez and Joc Pederson in free agency, the Los Angeles Dodgers are set to enter the 2021 regular season with a similar position player group from the previous year.
The starting lineup will look familiar with Mookie Betts in the leadoff spot, followed by Corey Seager and Justin Turner. As for the cleanup hitter, the Dodgers experimented with different players throughout the spring, namely Cody Bellinger and Max Muncy.
Bellinger has batted cleanup in each of his last four games and will remain in that spot for the start of the regular season. “I think we’re going to stick with Cody,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said.
“I like Cody at the 4, I like his ability to get on base and impact the game. I also like Max to do the same thing. For now, I like Cody at the 4 and Max in the potential 5 or 6.”
Muncy, who served as the Dodgers’ cleanup hitter in the 2020 postseason, will bat either fifth or sixth depending on the opposing pitcher.
“It’s handedness and how an opposing team has their bullpen constructed as far as leverage guys,” Roberts said. “There’s multiple components that are going to go into it.”
Roberts previously noted both Bellinger and Muncy were capable of batting cleanup on any given night. “I think both guys are very talented and you can argue interchangeable,” Roberts said last week.
“I don’t think I can make a wrong decision, but I’m just kind of thinking some things through before we get to Opening Day.”
Bellinger made initial change to new batting stance
Though he didn’t get into his first Spring Training game until the middle of March, Bellinger was able to experiment with a modification to his new batting stance that appears less open.
“I’m not sure what he and the hitting guys kind of came up with, but certainly a few degrees more closed, looked comfortable and took some good swings,” Roberts said after Bellinger’s 2021 debut.
When explaining the decision to change his batting stance this season, Bellinger said it was merely from a desire to find the positioning he is most comfort and confident in. He and Roberts also allowed for the possibility of changes to be ongoing.
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