Dodgers Team News

Dodgers Take New Measures To Protect Cody Bellinger In Lineup

The Los Angeles Dodgers starting lineup – in terms of batting order – is always an evergreen source of interest. Right now, the Dodgers tinker and toy with their chess pieces each night to assemble the best combination for a win.

Rarely flashing the same lineup card out there twice, the Dodgers have a new strategy. That strategy is, protect Cody Bellinger; who has been one of the hottest hitters on the planet to start 2019.



First, let’s examine what the Dodgers did in the series opener against Patrick Corbin.

As you can see, the Dodgers inserted Bellinger (.394, 14 HR, 38 RBI entering Thursday’s game) into the third spot in the lineup. Now, the interesting part to me is the strategy is ‘protecting’ Bellinger with David Freese. Here is what Dave Roberts had to say on the matter.

“Teams are pitching [Bellinger] a little more carefully,” said manager Dave Roberts. “Obviously last night, a couple times with runners on base, to pitch around him and get to Seager. I think there’s a little bit getting out of the strike zone with Cody. Hasn’t been able to stay on the ball as well as prior. But to see somebody locked in for that amount of time is difficult. For him to take walks is still important.”

What lineup protection means is to put the hottest hitter you can behind the focal point (Bellinger) in order to get that player extra pitches to hit. Moreover – the thought process is that with a scary hitter behind a scary hitter – less of a chance exists of the focal point being pitched around.

And so the Dodgers rolled out Freese. While I like Freese (paid handsome money to hit lefties) a lot, he entered Thursday hitting .220 with a .420 slugging percentage. Arguably, better choices may exist to protect Bellinger.

However, a good decision right now is to hit anyone around Justin Turner. Of course, Turner has homered four times in the past two contests. It’s nice to see these two back-to-back in the lineup.

As the season rolls onward, the lineup becomes a rubix cube of sorts. Never quite reaching a stopping or settled point, we should see patterns with what brings consistent success.

Construct your lineup!

In the comments section, what feedback or suggestions do you have for Dave Roberts in making the lineup card? You need not post your entire lineup (unless you would like), but what things please you to see when the lineup is released? What should the Dodgers do less of in building the lineup? Finally, what is the best way to keep Bellinger hot in regards to who hits around him and what spot in the order would you like to see him?

While there is no right answer to any of this – it’s always a fun conversation. Personally, one thing I would love to always see is Bellinger back-to-back with Max Muncy. If the Dodgers feel confident enough to play Muncy on a given night, he’s as good of a bet to protect Bellinger as anyone. Few teams can run out two 40-home run threats in the order beside one another.

Staff Writer

Staff Writer features content written by our site editors along with our staff of contributing writers. Thank you for your readership.

7 Comments

  1. Verdugo is hot and hitting lefties better than righties and idiot Roberts sets him down for Taylor? Wow,,,

    1. I was watching last night’s game when I heard them say Roberts was bombarded with questions as to why Verdugo wasn’t starting. keep in mind it does not matter what a player does or how hot he may currently be, that said player may or will sit the next day based upon the handedness of the opposing pitcher. It is tough to see but IIWII.

  2. When a team clicks perfectly….as the Dodgers did on Tuesday (5-7-19) in a 9-0 win over the Braves, why not keep the same chemistry of that lineup for as long as it keeps winning. There’s probably something about that lineup that cannot be seen in computers . So I say…..sometimes go with what clicks, rather than what the statistics say……and…..never mess with a winning streak.

  3. What I would like to see is perhaps an impact RHB behind Bellinger but honestly we do not have such a player on this roster. JT is a good # 3 hitter and that’s where he should be against ALL pitchers.

  4. Come on how hard is this

    Verdugo
    Freese
    Bellinger
    Turner
    Muncy
    Hernadez

    This is against lefties or Righties at least for awhile

  5. Paul a truly talented hitter can hit. It doesn’t matter what side of the plate the guy is throwing from many hitters can hit the ball. Verdugo can make contact so why worry about the fact he is a lefty? He is hitting lefties better anyway.

    I do not understand why people dwell on left and right!! Dwell on their actual stats…

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Back to top button