Why Dodgers will hit Kyle Tucker ahead of Freddie Freeman

PHOENIX –– There isn’t much intrigue when it comes to who will be in the Dodgers lineup when the season starts next month.But this spring, manager Dave Roberts does have a key decision to make about how he will order his superstar hitters.This week, Roberts began tipping his hand, fielding a strong lineup Tuesday that included a notable wrinkle: Star offseason signing Kyle Tucker was in the two-hole, and star first baseman Freddie Freeman was in the clean-up spot.Things could change between now and opening day, Roberts said, but “as we stand here today, I like that going forward.”How Tucker and Freeman would be deployed in the batting order has been a question ever since Tucker signed his $240 million deal to join the Dodgers this winter.Last year, the top of the Dodgers’ lineup rarely changed: Shohei Ohtani led off, Mookie Betts batted behind him, and Freeman typically hit third (although, sometimes was fourth with Will Smith batting third, when a left-handed pitcher was on the mound).Tucker’s arrival has changed that calculus.California Post News: Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, YouTube, WhatsApp, LinkedInCalifornia Post Sports Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, XCalifornia Post Opinion California Post Newsletters: Sign up here!California Post App: Download here!Home delivery: Sign up here!Page Six Hollywood: Sign up here!The Dodgers will still use Ohtani as the leadoff hitter this year.

But Tucker’s ability to get on base and hit both left- and right-handed pitching has given the team a new weapon.Usually, the Dodgers have tried to stagger the left- and right-handed hitters in their lineup, to prevent teams from gaining a matchup advantage when they deploy relievers.

But with Tucker, the danger of having two lefties –– himself and Ohtani –– topping the order is dissipated.Thus, expect to see a top five of Ohtani-Tucker-Betts-Freeman-Smith as the Dodgers pursue a third-straight World Series title.“I just feel with Kyle in the 2, lef...