Key Highlights
- Rebilas-Imagn ImagesEric StephenSun, March 1, 2026 at 2:57 PM UTC·3 min readThe Dodgers lineup plans have taken shape over the first few weeks of spring training, with the welcome task of figuring out where to insert newcomer Kyle Tucker into an increasingly stacked lineup. Freddie Freeman, who collected three of his planned 47 plate appearances this spring on Saturday at Camelback Ranch, spoke with Kirsten Watson on SportsNet LA from the dugout after his day was complete, and confirmed that he’ll bat fourth this season after hitting mostly third and some cleanup last season. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement“I’ve always loved being in the middle of the lineup, with guys in scoring position,” Freeman said.
- “I love when there’s guys on base, and I can either move them from first to third or drive them in.”The plan is for Tucker to hit second after Shohei Ohtani, followed by Mookie Betts and then Freeman.
- But what does Freeman gain by going from second or third to batting cleanup?
- Here are the plate appearances with runners on base and in scoring from 2025, by batting order, both league-wide and on the Dodgers. Order positionMLB on baseLA on baseMLB RISPLA RISP1st2572681541382nd3113241651713rd3303331831854th3383442012055th2983151821856th2872941681697th2852891621658th2762791651639th263262157145Cleanup hitters, unsurprisingly, bat the most often both with runners on base and in scoring position.
- In 2025, the average MLB team saw its fourth hitter bat eight more times with runners on than No.
