The Los Angeles Dodgers have tweaked the batting order a bit ahead of the series opener against the Cardinals in St. Louis Friday evening.
It’s the Dodgers’ first chance to bounce back after dropping the home series against the Miami Marlins.
Looking to get the bats going, manager Dave Roberts has moved a few batters around in the order.
Who is Playing for the Dodgers Friday?
Emmet Sheehan (2-0) gets the start after last pitching against the Chicago Cubs on April 24.
The Boys in Blue lost that game, and Sheehan got a no decision.
In his 6.1 innings of work, he gave up four hits and one run while striking out 10 batters.
He also walked one batter on balls and hit a batter with a pitch.
He’s excelling, though, when it comes to his breaking run value, which is in the 99th percentile, though he struggles in his fastball run value, which is only in the 7th percentile, per Baseball Savant.
Offensively, Ohtani is again at the Dodgers’ lineup as a designated hitter. First baseman Freddie Freeman keeps his No. 2 spot, and catcher Will Smith moves up to third in the lineup.
Left fielder Teoscar Hernandez bats cleanup, while right fielder Kyle Tucker will bat fifth.
Right fielder Andy Pages, a top performer thus far this season, bats sixth, followed by third baseman Max Muncy.
Veteran Miguel Rojas — a potential future manager for the Dodgers — is in at shortstop and batting eighth, while Santiago Espinal fills in at second base and hits last.
Dodgers Lineup for Friday
- Shohei Ohtani, DH
- Freddie Freeman, 1B
- Will Smith, C
- Teoscar Hernandez, LF
- Kyle Tucker, RF
- Andy Pages, CF
- Max Muncy, 3B
- Miguel Rojas, SS
- Santiago Espinal, 2B
Who Will the Dodgers Face on the Mound?
The Cardinals are starting Matthew Liberatore (0-1), who has an ERA of 4.75.
Liberatore has started six games thus far this season and has 19 strikeouts in 30.1 innings of work.
His WHIP is 1.55.
Baseball Savant shows that he’s struggling in many categories, especially breaking run value, which is worse than 99% of pitchers, and overall pitching run value, which is worse than 96% of pitchers.
What do you think of the Dodgers’ chances against the Cardinals Friday night?