Freddie Freeman is open to joining Teoscar Hernández in the Dodgers lineup

When the Los Angeles Dodgers faced Atlanta Braves star Chris Sale on September 14, there was a change in their lineup as Freddie Freeman and Teoscar Hernández swapped spots in the batting order.

Freeman moved into the clean spot for the first time since 2016, while Hernández moved to third, behind Shohei Ohtani and Mookie Betts in the Dodgers lineup.

Roberts presented the same look in three more games against left-handed starters and will continue to do so for the rest of the season, including the playoffs.

Freeman said, via Bill Plunkett of the Southern California News Group, that he agrees with moving down a spot against a left-handed pitcher because it leads to more favorable matchups for the Dodgers:

“Doc and I talked more after Friday night's game about going into the playoffs against left-handed starters to get to fourth so Mookie and Teo could get more offense against them,” Freeman said. “Of course I was all for it. Whatever we can do to win games.

“I kind of like it. This puts them in a difficult matchup because if they use a lefty for Shohei, that means Mookie and Teo will have to contend with lefties. We try to create tougher encounters over the course of a game to make it more difficult for the managers.”

Roberts believes the lineup adjustment could benefit the Dodgers in October, when teams tend to go to their bullpen earlier and have a variety of left-handed pitchers.

If an opponent brings in a southpaw to face Ohtani, that pitcher must pitch Betts and Hernández before reaching Freeman due to the three-batter minimum rule.

Betts and Hernández have done well against lefties this season, but Freeman has also had success against pitchers on the same side.

Dodgers follow Freddie Freeman

The 2024 season was not up to Freeman's standards, although he is having a productive year even if he has been in a slump of late.

Freeman had a bit of a breakthrough on Sunday with a key RBI single. After the Dodgers' comeback win, Roberts noted that he believes the team is following Freeman's emotional example and drawing on his energy.

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