Dodgers: Building the perfect lineup for 2021 season

Building the perfect Dodgers lineup for 2021 season

Oct 7, 2020; Arlington, Texas, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers center fielder Cody Bellinger (35) celebrates after hitting a solo home run off of San Diego Padres starting pitcher Zach Davies (not pictured) during the fourth inning in game two of the 2020 NLDS at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports /

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Cody Bellinger #35 of the Los Angeles Dodgers (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /

Batting Sixth: Cody Bellinger, CF

The Dodgers will maintain the status quo with Cody Bellinger.

Yeah, let’s just move our All-Star first baseman to center. Let’s just watch it work seamlessly. Let’s watch our first baseman make a leaping catch at the wall to rob Fernando Tatis Jr. in the playoffs. Being the Dodgers is great.

Presuming Bellinger manages to keep his shoulder in its socket for the full season, he’ll be batting sixth every day, which is such an example of an embarrassment of riches.

At his worst, Bellinger remains the game’s preeminent power threat from this spot in the lineup and a plus-plus defender, despite his slumping average. At his best, he’s an MVP candidate batting in the same spot where most lineups start to nosedive, and he’s only entering his first year of arbitration. Not bad.

Just has to clean up those violent celebrations. Then, the kid really might be going places.

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