Projecting Dodgers’ Opening Day lineup with Freddie Freeman

Oh, what a beautiful mornin’! Oh, what a beautiful day! Freddie Freeman has chosen the Dodgers, and everything’s goin’ LA.

If you thought the Dodgers’ death lineup from 2021 was invincible, wait until you see 2022’s version with Freeman and a fully-healthy Max Muncy in place.

Sadly, Corey Seager had to go, chasing long-term security in Texas. And, technically, with the Universal DH added, we could’ve seen a world where Seager, Freeman, Muncy and Trea Turner could all share the field more often than not. Truly terrifying!

As it is, the Dodgers suppose they’ll make do with only that trio on the field. Regardless, ditching the pitcher’s spot should (should! please!) make this lineup more fearsome.

Will LA’s new favorite son be eased into the Hollywood lineup? Will he reclaim his old spot in Atlanta without hesitation? Will all the Dodgers’ existing stars defer to his wishes?

Doubtful, likely, probably! Here’s our best guess for what the Dodgers look like on Opening Day 2022, facing off against the Rockies at Coors Field (again!).

Dodgers Opening Day Lineup 2022 (Projection) with Freddie Freeman

1. Mookie Betts, RF
2. Trea Turner, SS
3. Freddie Freeman, 1B
4. Max Muncy, DH

How ’bout THAT top four?! Betts and Turner get copy-pasted into our new-look batting order straight from the end of last year’s NLCS, but it’s pretty impossible to top that as a one-two punch. Not sure who the Dodgers will acquire over the next year or two to attempt to top it, as they often do, but that’ll be addressed eventually.

It’s difficult to keep FreeBomb out of the top half of this order, even with the immense amount of star power in play here. If Dave Roberts wants to get experimental, he can split the righties and lefties and run with Betts/Freeman/Turner/Muncy, but that feels unnecessarily cute. Let the speed demons set the table, worry about everything else later.

We’ll give Muncy the DH role for now, too, considering he’ll still be getting up to speed.

Bottom of Dodgers’ projected 2022 lineup is still beastly

As for five-through-nine, this projection feels likely, but you really can’t go wrong here.

5. Justin Turner, 3B

6. Will Smith, C

7. Chris Taylor, 2B

8. AJ Pollock, LF

9. Cody Bellinger, CF

In conclusion: HAHA! What an embarrassment of riches. Legitimately, the rest of the league should be more embarrassed than they currently are.

What minor changes could possibly be made? Defer to Turner, the vet, and move him up to the cleanup spot while sliding Muncy down to split the lefties? “Demote” the veritable team MVP from 2021 and his 36 homers/138 OPS+ to the five-hole for the good of some balance? Sure, we can see it. But beyond that … Cody Bellinger, looking for a resurgent season, is still in the No. 9 hole. Come on now.

Your Opening Day starter, despite a career-high in innings last season, should still be … Walker Buehler, the big right-hander out of Vanderbilt who’s looking for an extension and is going to hit the ground running with a vengeance. No. 21 and Julio Urías might be the only sure things in this rotation right now as Clayton Kershaw continues his rehabilitation, and Kershaw’s proudly deferred to Buehler regardless, so expect those three to open the season in that order.

So all that’s left to determine is … who’s left out by this dominant nine-man crew?