Bold Dodgers move creates change for Shohei Ohtani

As the Los Angeles Dodgers hope to kickstart Mookie Betts out of a season-long slump, manager Dave Roberts is shuffling the lineup and moving Shohei Ohtani out of the leadoff spot.

Betts, a career .291 hitter who is batting just .241 this season, was inserted into the leadoff spot ahead of Sunday's series finale at Chavez Ravine against the Milwaukee Brewers. With the move, Ohtani was bumped down to second in the order, marking the first time since June 16, 2024, that Ohtani wasn't at the top of the lineup for L.A.

Hitting in the leadoff spot is nothing new for Betts in his 12-year MLB career. He has been first in the batting order for 1,070 games during his career, easily outdistancing every other spot in the lineup. He's also found success in that spot, slashing .296/.376/.537 in 4,996 plate appearances.

The Betts-Ohtani shuffle on Sunday goes against what Roberts said on Saturday. After Betts sat out Friday's game against the Brewers, Roberts indicated the eight-time All-Star would go back into the second spot in the lineup once he returned. 

However, Roberts played with the lineup on Sunday in a move that could be temporary with Max Muncy expected to be back with the Dodgers "in a couple of weeks," according to Roberts. The Dodgers' infielder is recovering from a left knee bone bruise, an injury that looked much worse when it happened on July 2 and Muncy admitted could have been much worse as well.