Mookie Betts thriving batting first: Should he hit leadoff for Dodgers instead of Shohei Ohtani?

Plan A, as always, is Shohei Ohtani.But over the last couple nights, Plan B has looked pretty good too.Whenever Ohtani returns from the injured list, the two-way star will likely reprise his customary role as the Dodgers’ leadoff hitter –– one he has held since halfway through his debut 2024 season with the team.Likely, however, was as far as manager Dave Roberts was willing to describe it on Saturday.Because in Ohtani’s absence, Mookie Betts has made a case to spearhead the team’s order, too.Over the last week, a red-hot Betts has served as the Dodgers’ leadoff hitter three times.In each of those contests, he delivered a vintage performance.There was a 2-for-4 display with an RBI and a double in Miami last week.A 3-for-4 outburst with two home runs (including one to lead off the game) against the San Francisco Giants on Friday night.Then, a 4-for-4, three-double, two-RBI, one-walk masterpiece in another 10-4 rout of the Giants on Saturday, a victory that lowered the Dodgers’ magic number to clinch a first-round playoff bye down to four with eight days remaining in the season.“I just think he’s physically in a better spot than he has been,” Roberts said after Saturday’s outburst, which pushed Betts’ season average up to .261 and OPS to .785.

“The ball’s coming off the right way.”Of course, Betts has been crushing the ball regardless of where he’s been in the order lately.Since Aug.

5, he is batting .336 in 39 games with nine home runs, 12 doubles, 31 RBIs and a 1.008 OPS.It has marked the former MVP’s best extended stretch since early in the 2024 season.It has been a reminder that there’s still plenty of life left in his previously slumping bat.“I know I’m still capable of it,” the 33-year-old Betts said.

“I know it was in there somewhere.”Added Roberts: “It just doesn’t matter where you hit him, who he’s facing, [what’s] the situation –– he’s taking good at-bats.”Betts’ impact at the top of the line...