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Dodgers: 3 role changes we’d already make after four games

By Jason Reed |
Apr 1, 2021; Denver, Colorado, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers center fielder Cody Bellinger (35) slides safely in to second on a double in the fifth inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 1, 2021; Denver, Colorado, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers center fielder Cody Bellinger (35) slides safely in to second on a double in the fifth inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
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The Los Angeles Dodgers lost on Opening Day to the Colorado Rockies but were able to respond with three consecutive victories to win the series.

There was a lot of good in this series. We witnessed great starting pitching from Trevor Bauer, Julio Urias and Walker Buehler, all of whom recorded a win. There were some great hitting performances as well, most notably from Corey Seager, who reached base in 12 of his 16 plate appearances.

It was not great for every Dodgers player, though. Clayton Kershaw got roughed up on Opening Day behind worm-burner grounders and mistakes in the field, and Cody Bellinger got his first home run of the season taken away thanks to a joint gaffe with Justin Turner. David Price didn’t look too great in his official Dodgers debut, either.

It is hard to nitpick the Los Angeles Dodgers, but we would still make these changes.

(Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Dodgers sluggers Max Muncy and Cody Bellinger
(Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Dodgers sluggers Max Muncy and Cody Bellinger /

3. Bat Max Muncy clean-up over Cody Bellinger

Cody Bellinger played the first three games of the season before getting the day off on Sunday. In those three games he batted clean-up opposed to sixth, which is where he batted for most of the 2020 playoffs.

Max Muncy spent most of the time hitting clean-up in the 2020 playoffs and the Dodgers should go back to that. Bellinger, while not getting help with his home run nullification, was not great in the opening series while Muncy saw the ball well.

This is more than just a four-game overreaction, though. Bellinger was cold last season and continues to tweak his swing. Fans should not want someone who keeps tweaking his swing to be hitting in such an important part of the lineup.

Muncy is a better run producer as it currently stands. He’s more likely to work deeper counts and had better numbers last season with runners in scoring position. Muncy had an OPS that was 65 points higher and he drove in 16 runs in 63 chances whereas Bellinger drove in 14 in 60 chances.

It’s a subtle change and it’s a first-world baseball problem to have, but Bellinger stranding 12 runners in three games is a good reason to move him down. The bottom half of the lineup would then be Muncy-Smith-Bellinger-Taylor-Lux. Still potent.

(Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Jimmy Nelson
(Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Jimmy Nelson /

2. Keep Jimmy Nelson on mop-up duty

Jimmy Nelson leads all Dodgers pitchers in games pitched as he appeared in two for the Boys in Blue. Now, to be fair, this was done more in necessity as Tony Gonsolin was dealing with shoulder inflammation that landed him on the 10-day IL.

Gonsolin likely would have pitched in one of the two outings. Regardless, while Nelson is a great story, he should probably be reserved for mop-up duty for the time being.

Nelson has not pitched consistently since 2017 and signed with the Dodgers prior to the 2020 season while he was hurt. The Dodgers re-signed him to be part of the bullpen in 2021 because they seemingly still believe he can regain his nasty form.

The Dodgers are the best team in the league at finding projects and turning them into legitimate relievers. Nelson was expected to continue that trend.

But after a promising spring training, he was not great in his two outings. On Opening Day, he allowed a walk and a double to go along with two wild pitches that resulted in two runs scored. On Sunday, he was responsible for the only inning in which the Rockies scored.

Julio Urias, fresh off of seven scoreless innings, allowed an infield single to Ryan McMahon to start the seventh. Nelson was put into the game and it looked as if he was going to get the clean hold. He struck out the first two batters he faced before walking Chris Owings and allowing a double to Garrett Hampson.

Two runs scored. One charged to Urias, one to Nelson. He was then able to strike out Trevor Story, but that was one good Trevor Story swing away from being a tie game.

It’s a long season and he will find his stuff. He’s not all the way there yet, so for now, he should be reserved for mop-up duty whenever possible.

(Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Dodgers
(Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Dodgers /

1. A.J. Pollock should only play against left-handed pitching

The opening series was an interesting one as Dave Roberts opted to give all of his star players at least one game off. The Dodgers know the importance of keeping the players fresh, especially at the onset of the year.

That led to A.J. Pollock getting more playing time than he otherwise would. After just one series we can confirm what we already knew: Pollock should be a southpaw specialist and a southpaw specialist only.

Pollock just looks so lost against right-handed pitching and it’s been a problem since he became a Dodger. He actually hit .248 against right-handers last season but only had a .761 OPS. He does not walk at all against right-handed pitching. His on-base percentage last season was under .300. That is … bad.

The Dodgers also have someone who can replace Pollock in left field against righties: Zack McKinstry. The youngster is the Dodgers’ new utility player and is a far better option as a left-handed hitter in left field. In fact, that’s exactly what the Dodgers did for Monday’s game against the Oakland Athletics. Let’s hope for good results.

The regular season is long, guys are going to need rest, and Pollock is naturally going to play against right-handed pitching. That is inevitable.

However, he’s not a great fielder and is a below-average hitter against righties. The team should take the same approach with Pollock against righties as they did with Joc Pederson against lefties throughout his tenure in LA.

Pollock might just be the worst hitter against right-handed pitching on the entire team, and there’s an easy way to fix that.

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