Dodgers: Much Needed Lineup Changes Coming at Home

The Dodgers will arrive in LA down 2-0 in the World Series.  With two right-handers scheduled to go for Boston, some much needed lineup changes are coming.

The Dodgers faced two left-handed starters to begin the World Series and lost both games.  Now with two right-handed pitchers on tap in Rick Porcello and Nathan Eovaldi, the Dodgers will make some much needed lineup changes at home.  The left-handed hitting platoon lineup will look to spark the Dodgers at home.

The right-handed platoon lineup has not gotten much offense going for the Dodgers.  In particular, Enrique Hernandez has been terrible at the plate and should see the bench with Porcello and Eovaldi scheduled to pitch.  Hernandez has not recorded a hit in the World Series after hitting just .071 in the NLCS.  For the whole postseason that gives him an average below .100.

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Another change that will be coming for at least games three and four is that Brian Dozier should not start at second base.  Dozier has also failed to record a base hit in the World Series and his defense has cost the Dodgers on double play turns he has attempted.  It’s unclear who will start at second base but the Dodgers could decide to roll with Max Muncy at second base and keep David Freese at first base.

David Freese has been part of the right-handed platoon lineup but he has been the Dodgers best hitter in the World Series.  Freese is hitting .600 and has been working the count and getting on base.  That is more than a lot of the other Dodgers can say right now.  Freese needs to stay in the lineup and then Max Muncy can play second base with Cody Bellinger manning center field.

Muncy has been the Dodgers most consistent power hitter this season up until Manny Machado was acquired so he will look to play more regularly and give the Dodger lineup a power boost.  Cody Bellinger and Joc Pederson will also get a couple starts after sitting on the bench for the majority of the first two games.  Last year we all saw what Joc is capable of doing in October and last series showed what Bellinger can do.

Behind the plate the Dodgers are better off seeing if Yasmani Grandal can rebound from a tough NLCS.  Austin Barnes bat has been non-existent and Grandal still has the kind of power that could change a game in one swing.  It’s worth a shot as the futile Dodger offense went more than five innings of consecutive outs last night.  The Dodgers must win Friday if they have any hopes of making the World Series an actual series.