The Los Angeles Dodgers moved first baseman Freddie Freeman to fourth in the lineup on both Saturday and Monday, taking him out of the top three while switching Teoscar Hernández in at third. The lineup change was no slight to Freeman, but a strategy choice as the Dodgers went up against two left-handed pitchers.
Both Shohei Ohtani and Freeman bat left, so teams have tried using their left-handed relievers against the duo. To counteract the strategy, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts moved Freeman into the fourth slot.
“It’s no secret that any team that’s going to try to beat us is going to stockpile some lefties to minimize Shohei and Freddie,” Roberts said, via Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic.