After losing two straight games to division rival, San Francisco Giants, the Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts decided he needed to make a change.
In both games against San Francisco, the Dodgers have only scored one run. The single run was not even from a hit, it was a bases loaded walk from Hyeseong Kim that scored Teoscar Hernandez in Tuesday’s 3-1 loss.
It seems unprecedented for the back-to-back World Series champions to struggle on offense, however, seven hits in two games is not a good luck.
Hours before the series finale between the Dodgers and Giants, Dave Roberts spoke to the media about a change in the batting order for the foreseeable future.
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Dave Roberts Moves Freddie Freeman Batting 2nd And Kyle Tucker Batting Cleanup
During the offseason, the Los Angeles Dodgers added silver slugger Kyle Tucker to their league-high payroll, and while many thought he would be a perfect addition to the team, his recent struggles have proved otherwise.
Tucker’s 2026 season splits .233/.320/.356, numbers that do not exactly value a $240 million contract. In the last two games against the Giants, Tucker is 0-8 with four strikeouts.
Dodgers beat writer Katie Woo wrote to X after a pregame press conference stating, “Also, Roberts said he will keep Freddie Freeman hitting second and Kyle Tucker hitting fourth for the foreseeable future.”
Dave Roberts commented on Tucker’s 2026 performance claiming, “I do feel [Tucker] is trying to do too much. I definitely expect him to come out of it.”
Tucker moving down in the lineup did not come as a surprise. After Wednesday’s shutout, Roberts spoke about the lack of production in the top of the order.
“With Tuck, I think that..he’s just..he’s clearly not comfortable,” Roberts said. “He’s frustrated. Doing extra work with the hitting guys. I don’t right now have an answer. When he does get a pitch in the zone, he’s just not putting a good swing on it, or getting beat.”
However, it seems like Roberts may have found his answer. During 2025 Freddie Freeman frequently rotated around the second, third, and fourth spot in the lineup, so moving up in the lineup makes sense for the veteran.
In 2026, Freeman is a point shy of batting .300, and in his last seven games posts splits of .400/.500/.600, with five walks and only three strikeouts.
Los Angeles Dodgers Starting Lineup Vs. San Francisco Giants
Katie Woo posted the Los Angeles Dodgers lineup to X ahead of the 12:45 P.M. PST start time for the Dodgers-Giants game.
DODGERS LINEUP:
- Shohei Ohtani (L) DH
- Freddie Freeman (L) 1B
- Teoscar Hernández (R) LF
- Kyle Tucker (L) RF
- Max Muncy (L) 3B
- Andy Pages (R) CF
- Dalton Rushing (L) C
- Hyeseong Kim (L) SS
- Alex Freeland (S) 2B
GIANTS LINEUP:
- Willy Adames (R) SS
- Luis Arraez (L) 2B
- Matt Chapman (R) 3B
- Rafael Devers (L) 1B
- Heliot Ramos (R) LF
- Jung Hoo Lee (L) RF
- Will Brennan (L) DH
- Drew Gilbert (L) CF
- Patrick Bailey (S) C
The Dodgers are looking to avoid the sweep against the Giants with Tyler Glasnow on the mound in the bay area.
Dave Roberts Makes Kyle Tucker Announcement Ahead Of Giants Game